| CHAPTER TWO Cairon's eyes flared. He refused to let this inpenetrable noise disturb him. He stood still and refused to hear the voices. He would have his own mind. He would not allow the voices to invade his train of thought . "No! No! No!" He declared stamping his hooves impatiently waiting for the screams to be humbled by his presence. The screams grew louder! Neverbefore had he felt so devoid of meaning as he did now. "Why respect YOUR wisdom now? What good has it done?" Whispered a voice in his ear. "Nothing matters", said another voice that whooshed past him suddenly. Cairon's eyes grew dim and he felt his haggard face and pitied himself. "No! No! No!" He shouted, but his voice was weak and hoarse and he noticed it. However, he managed to rescue some parts of himself amist the madness and conjectured that if he were to infact listen to the voices and use his wisdom to defeat them he would regain his logical and focused mind; perhaps melt the web of icycles that surrounded him. "You are weak! You are old. you are no longer needed in this World" SCREAMED a voice. "I AM OLD AND WISE. The body if frail but the mind is STRONG", replied Cairon. "You are meaningless. You can not save fantastica", declared another voice. "I am Cairon the Great Master of the Healer's Art!" He replied in anguish and with deep pain of heart. Suddenly he realised his way out of the haze... "I am but one - but there are many". The voices responded to this response witha terrifying scream. "I trust the Childlike Empress!" Cairon declared with full heart. He continued.." I am but a pawn in her hand!" The words rolled off of his tongue and it was as if an unknown force compelled him to say them. The icycles melted before his eyes and ascended into the golden sky. Cairon was now beside a waterfall where he collapsed from exhaustion and dehydration; the water gushed over his limp body. "Cairon!" cried a small voice. One would describe it as the voice of a child's. "Cairon!" It pleaded. The great centaur raised his head and as his eyes focused on the form he found that he was looking at a young horse. It was as white as a dove. Its hair looked as soft as velvet and its red and purple mane was dancing in the wind. "Why do you bother me?" Asked Cairon. The young horse just looked intently at him with eyes like an azzure sky; patiently and quietly. "How do you know who I am?" Asked Cairon. "I know not WHO you are. Just your name", replied the young mare. "Not know Cairon the greatest healer in ALL Fantastica?!" Expostulated the other. The horse looked down at Cairon with concern. "Why do you stare? Do I amuse one such as yourself?" Questioned Cairon. "I only wonder why your countenance is so troubled" "Have you not seen or heard of the 'nothing'?!" replied Cairon in shock. "I have", stated the other. "Yet you are patient!!" Screamed Cairon. The horse did not reply it only drew closer to the waterfall and drank with its purple tongue. Then it took three steps back and composed himself. "I have come from the Childlike Empress", declared the horse. "I also was on a mission", said the other with sadness. COPYRIGHT PINKCLOUD 2001 |