One by one all the men died and Haldora became the highest priestess of the rituals. She would pick the herbs and prepare the remedies, copy the parchments and keep them safe. At times of festivals she would prepare the food and the instruments, she would run the ritual when she was alone and when more of her companions in religion appeared she would take a second position. All of the followers agreed that Haldora had been a great pupil and that her strength was ever growing. Most importantly she would train herself to be centered as her mentor had told her. Alone in this place she would meditate and tried to see the world with her third eye. She could now control the voices around her hearing only when she wanted. She was learning to control things like fire and water and fog, how to raise them and lower them. She was close to achieving what her mentor had done to her. She was close to see all of a person’s life. She could see much but not entirely.
Many decades passed and Haldora understood her appearance would not change and that that was starting to draw too much attention. She began to plan her disappearance. She took part of the celebration of the New Year in the Samahain. The next day she would soon start a new life. The night was brightened by the light of the full moon. Haldora said the rites and asked for better crops, peace and serenity for her land. She offered herbs as sacrifice and stayed at her post praying till the moon went to bed and brought the sun. She welcomed the beams of the dawn and at that time ended her ritual. Her companions had all gone, when she head back home. She would only get some more food and be on her way. Half way through Haldora saw smoke coming from her house, she ran and hiding behind a rock she saw men burning down her house. Some men were wearing robes with crosses drawn on them. She understood the warning Anna had given her. These men spoke a new language. Haldora concentrated on that language to try to understand, but most words were unfamiliar. The men rode away and Haldora remained sitting behind that rock. She prayed that this was not the end of her teachings.
After a while, she raised form her hiding place and began her trip to anywhere. She walked without a route. She had no plan. She would go where her legs would take her. She was happy to find dense woods. The sight of the man that burned her house down was still fresh in her mind and she feared they knew who she was, what she was. In a sense she was as much running from them as from anyone, she needed to be near people that had never seen her before, so as not to suspect she could not age nor die. During her journey she carved a cross like what she had seen on the men’s robes, out of wood and threaded a string around it, hanging it around her neck. She thought this would make her less suspicious to all. The significance of this new symbol, still escaped her, but she was trying harder to survive than to understand.
One rainy night, Haldora searched for a cave to stay the night when she tripped on something laying on the ground. She turned to see what it was and found a man lying on the ground shivering. His helmet was still on, but Haldora was more interested on a great wound he had on his shoulder. She ripped his iron coat as if it were paper and took a better look. She then laid him on her shoulder and with some hardship brought him into a small tight cave. She laid him down and immediately searched for wooden sticks to light a fire. It took her a while to start one because the wood was wet, but as soon as she had a spark, she made the fire grow and grow, though she had little wood. The man immediately searched the warmth of the fire. Haldora removed from her basket her sheep-skin coat, she then set about removing the wet armor from the man. When she did she came across the most familiar face she had ever seen. Her warrior was lying in front of her. She removed his clothes with heist and covered him with her coat. She examined his shoulder to find an arrow’s head stuck in it. Carefully she took it out with her knife. She turned to her basket again and removed some herbs. She heated rain water and some herbs and carefully poured it inside the wound. The warrior screamed in pain and Haldora tried to hold him down. He was half conscious and stared at her, though his eyes were as blank as dead. There was nothing less to do but wait for him to get warmer and recover.
As the night progressed the shivering slowed down and the warrior was now fast a sleep. The rain had stopped and the fire was lowered. Haldora waited till she was sure he really slept. She uncovered his body and inspected it for new wounds. She slid her hand down his torso and down to his legs, breathing deeply as she did so. She took his face between her hands and leaned down, her breath was on his face and soon her lips were on his lips. Half asleep he responded to the kiss with another. He embraced her and held her close. She allowed her body to cover his. In this embrace, Haldora could feel her body regain much of the warmth she had not felt for a long time. He did not seem to notice her natural coldness. He stroked her hair and kissed her neck. She returned the caresses. His hands soon slid down her dress and lifted her skirts, caressing her legs. Haldora breathed faster, while kissing his torso. He pushed her to glue her body to his.
- My warrior… - Haldora whispered.
- My Isabeaux… - he answered.
Haldora pressed his wound, which made him shout, he was taken by pain and laid on his side contorting. She covered him again and prepared food and water.
Crying… Disappointed… She left.
Monday, January 8, 2007
CHAPTER VII
Haldora took a long journey with the old man by her side. They rode each on their horse to the north, through the inside of the land. Passing through war zones, where bodies hid the land and redness ruled. Passing through empty, burned down villages. Passing through people that ran from the fighting zones, with what little tings they were able to collect. Passing through man that were drafted to the army and were to fight next to the king in one last decisive battle. To all this the Old man seemed indifferent. They would camp for the night and he would not worry about wild animals or men. In the morning they would leave and he would still look serene. As they approached their destination, the voices went silent.
The trees were gone and all they saw were open spaces and some rocks here and there. At a distance there were some houses with freckled lights within them.
- We are in the town of Salisbury and here we will remain until you are ready. – the old man explained.
- I understand.
- Can you read?
- No.
- Then that is where we’ll start.
They came to one of these houses. Stopped, got off from their horses and the old man knocked on the door. Another old man opened the door and welcomed them in. Food and beverage were laid on the table, though Haldora ate nothing. The men in the house all wore the same clothes, a brown gown. They all looked alike. The walls of the house were filled with shelves containing parchment papers rolled up and stacked on one another. On one wall there were small wooden boards also stacked on one another. Below it there sat a man copying this wooden boards carvings to parchment. The men did not look at Haldora, they continued on with their work as if she was not there. Some labored around a caldron, others, around bottles and others cutting fresh herbs. She soon came to a conclusion.
- There are no women here. – She whispered to the old man.
- You are right. It’s been a long time since we’ve taught a woman.
Haldora asked herself what this teaching would bring her. She was only happy she heard nothing but silence.
The days passed swiftly. Haldora learned to read the old tongues and the new languages. She could speak them as a native. She learned at a rapid pace. Soon she would copy the parchments herself and commit many of them to memory. When her learning of the written formulas was complete, she move on to the understanding of nature. She would take long strolls with the old men and learned the herbs. She would identify them and soon use them in potions and remedies. The sun light became more of a friend, but the darkness still kept little secrets from her eyes and little by little it appeared Haldora was becoming more of a mortal.
The voices still bothered her when she left this sacred place, but soon that would also be dealt with. The hardest thing to learn was to use her own inner strength. She would have to learn to control herself and everything around her. Meditation was in order, but she could not do so on account of the voices. Long years were passed before she could bring herself to take this last step.
The old man was now too old and dying, Haldora could feel his soul slipping away. Other men had already gone and she and very few others remained. Her heart ached for the loss of this her friend.
A very aged Anna arrived before his death and sat with him till his eyes were closed for good.
Haldora carried his dead body outside as if it were a child and laid him on a stone. She joined the others on a ritual to command his soul. In deep prayer, she felt tears run down her face, as she opened her eyes she could see winged spirits take his soul to the skies. These were new gods, her new gods.
The men kept themselves inside talking about their faith, now that the eldest of them all had died. Haldora kept herself outside trying to complete the training he had started her on.
- The years have not been cruel to you. – stated Anna when she found Haldora sitting outside with her eyes closed.
- They have been more cruel then you’d know. – Haldora opened her eyes.
- Soon I will join him. – Anna announced as she sat down with great hardship.
- I know. And I will be alone, with no one to guide me. I don’t want to be away from you, my best friend.
- Trust your instincts. They will find me. I came to warn you of things to come. The Danes are at peace with this land but more will come. You must keep what you learn here a secret and you must be careful. If you do not bow to their god, Christ, you will suffer.
- Suffering does not scare me. Not anymore.
Anna took her knife from her belt and grabbed Haldora’s hand, she make a cut through the palm and then did the same to her palm. Haldora’s near black blood oozed out of the wound and contrasted with the bright red liquid coming from Anna. They joined hands.
- You will always find me and I will always remember you. Blood sisters for eternity.
Haldora smiled to her old friend but believe she would never see this woman again. Anna went inside to rest. Haldora walked most of the night to the most sacred site of the land. Her sadness and sense of loss were great. She lay down in the centre of the gigantic circle of stones, a place where the old man had taken her many times to celebrate the seasons and the life of nature. Within those high stones she felt as safe as ever and she could feel the pounding of the earth’s heart and the flowing of her blood. The ancients said there was a dragon living at the core of the land. Haldora thought it would be Otr and she spoke to it, lamenting herself. Today she cried the loss of her mentor as she had cried for the loss of her warrior.
Haldora sat down and wiped the tears from her face and took a deep breath. She could not let her mentor down by weeping his death as a child. She would finish her training as he had instructed her. She would continue his legacy. She concentrated in her own mediation, forgetting everything around her. Immediately she was brought to a new place. In this place it was morning and men were working in the fields and tending to animals as farmers do. She stood in the middle of this little village, wearing her white tunic from the Underworld; no one seemed to be able to see her. She searched to recognize anyone but no one seemed familiar, it wasn’t her old village. Soon she saw the boy she had seen before on her away to the old man’s house. She came near him, and he still could not see her. She followed him to his house and inside she found his mother expecting a new child. The woman tried to cook, while rubbing her back in pain. The boy sat down at the table, waiting to get his food. Haldora turned to leave this house, when in front of her stood her warrior, in the farmer’s life he had chosen before. He walked through her as if she were air and sat down to eat. Haldora no longer saw the family life, she tried every way to try to touch her warrior or at least get him to hear her. Every attempt failed. Strong sounds came from the outside. Haldora left the house and her warrior followed. Men on horses galloped into the village from both sides. They came for war. On one side men wearing animal heads on their own, throwing fire to the roofs and killing every man and woman that stood in their path. On the other an army of knights, wearing iron helmets and colorful clothes. Haldora’s warrior turned to run home, but as he did a spear pierced his unprotected body…
Startled… Pain on her chest…
The trees were gone and all they saw were open spaces and some rocks here and there. At a distance there were some houses with freckled lights within them.
- We are in the town of Salisbury and here we will remain until you are ready. – the old man explained.
- I understand.
- Can you read?
- No.
- Then that is where we’ll start.
They came to one of these houses. Stopped, got off from their horses and the old man knocked on the door. Another old man opened the door and welcomed them in. Food and beverage were laid on the table, though Haldora ate nothing. The men in the house all wore the same clothes, a brown gown. They all looked alike. The walls of the house were filled with shelves containing parchment papers rolled up and stacked on one another. On one wall there were small wooden boards also stacked on one another. Below it there sat a man copying this wooden boards carvings to parchment. The men did not look at Haldora, they continued on with their work as if she was not there. Some labored around a caldron, others, around bottles and others cutting fresh herbs. She soon came to a conclusion.
- There are no women here. – She whispered to the old man.
- You are right. It’s been a long time since we’ve taught a woman.
Haldora asked herself what this teaching would bring her. She was only happy she heard nothing but silence.
The days passed swiftly. Haldora learned to read the old tongues and the new languages. She could speak them as a native. She learned at a rapid pace. Soon she would copy the parchments herself and commit many of them to memory. When her learning of the written formulas was complete, she move on to the understanding of nature. She would take long strolls with the old men and learned the herbs. She would identify them and soon use them in potions and remedies. The sun light became more of a friend, but the darkness still kept little secrets from her eyes and little by little it appeared Haldora was becoming more of a mortal.
The voices still bothered her when she left this sacred place, but soon that would also be dealt with. The hardest thing to learn was to use her own inner strength. She would have to learn to control herself and everything around her. Meditation was in order, but she could not do so on account of the voices. Long years were passed before she could bring herself to take this last step.
The old man was now too old and dying, Haldora could feel his soul slipping away. Other men had already gone and she and very few others remained. Her heart ached for the loss of this her friend.
A very aged Anna arrived before his death and sat with him till his eyes were closed for good.
Haldora carried his dead body outside as if it were a child and laid him on a stone. She joined the others on a ritual to command his soul. In deep prayer, she felt tears run down her face, as she opened her eyes she could see winged spirits take his soul to the skies. These were new gods, her new gods.
The men kept themselves inside talking about their faith, now that the eldest of them all had died. Haldora kept herself outside trying to complete the training he had started her on.
- The years have not been cruel to you. – stated Anna when she found Haldora sitting outside with her eyes closed.
- They have been more cruel then you’d know. – Haldora opened her eyes.
- Soon I will join him. – Anna announced as she sat down with great hardship.
- I know. And I will be alone, with no one to guide me. I don’t want to be away from you, my best friend.
- Trust your instincts. They will find me. I came to warn you of things to come. The Danes are at peace with this land but more will come. You must keep what you learn here a secret and you must be careful. If you do not bow to their god, Christ, you will suffer.
- Suffering does not scare me. Not anymore.
Anna took her knife from her belt and grabbed Haldora’s hand, she make a cut through the palm and then did the same to her palm. Haldora’s near black blood oozed out of the wound and contrasted with the bright red liquid coming from Anna. They joined hands.
- You will always find me and I will always remember you. Blood sisters for eternity.
Haldora smiled to her old friend but believe she would never see this woman again. Anna went inside to rest. Haldora walked most of the night to the most sacred site of the land. Her sadness and sense of loss were great. She lay down in the centre of the gigantic circle of stones, a place where the old man had taken her many times to celebrate the seasons and the life of nature. Within those high stones she felt as safe as ever and she could feel the pounding of the earth’s heart and the flowing of her blood. The ancients said there was a dragon living at the core of the land. Haldora thought it would be Otr and she spoke to it, lamenting herself. Today she cried the loss of her mentor as she had cried for the loss of her warrior.
Haldora sat down and wiped the tears from her face and took a deep breath. She could not let her mentor down by weeping his death as a child. She would finish her training as he had instructed her. She would continue his legacy. She concentrated in her own mediation, forgetting everything around her. Immediately she was brought to a new place. In this place it was morning and men were working in the fields and tending to animals as farmers do. She stood in the middle of this little village, wearing her white tunic from the Underworld; no one seemed to be able to see her. She searched to recognize anyone but no one seemed familiar, it wasn’t her old village. Soon she saw the boy she had seen before on her away to the old man’s house. She came near him, and he still could not see her. She followed him to his house and inside she found his mother expecting a new child. The woman tried to cook, while rubbing her back in pain. The boy sat down at the table, waiting to get his food. Haldora turned to leave this house, when in front of her stood her warrior, in the farmer’s life he had chosen before. He walked through her as if she were air and sat down to eat. Haldora no longer saw the family life, she tried every way to try to touch her warrior or at least get him to hear her. Every attempt failed. Strong sounds came from the outside. Haldora left the house and her warrior followed. Men on horses galloped into the village from both sides. They came for war. On one side men wearing animal heads on their own, throwing fire to the roofs and killing every man and woman that stood in their path. On the other an army of knights, wearing iron helmets and colorful clothes. Haldora’s warrior turned to run home, but as he did a spear pierced his unprotected body…
Startled… Pain on her chest…
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