This blog is in continuation to the story started by Shaunak Mukherjee... To read the first part click here - Valhalla - I
She stood by the banks of the sea watching the mighty sun dive into the vast expanse of water and the sky transforming itself from Vermilion to Prussian blue. Darkness prevailed. She turned to walk back to her house which was a small hut by the sea, marking the end of the territory that belonged to her clan. The so-called homeland. This was not where she was brought up. Her home, the tribe, the land, the mountains and more so the identity of her clan was snatched in a flash. She can never forget that day! The war had ended a little over 4 years now but the wounds were still fresh and they still bled. As she walked past her house down the clobbered path that led to the gates of the city past the evening hustle of the market place, the barbaric war came flashing right before her eyes. 'Usurpers' her subconscious screamed!
The historic 100-day war! The heavens had opened their flood gates during the entire course of the war and it poured continuously. Even He could not bear the sight of watching his creations perish and He cried with rage. They fought non-stop for their land, their right, their honour, their love - their homeland. They were outnumbered. Clearly. They had lost many but not once did they let their spirit break until that moment... when they saw their Chief fall off the horse and it all came crashing down!
As she slayed the first row of the enemy line she turned to find his head drop at her feet at that very moment and his beloved horse flung his body away running into the woods not withstanding the loss of his rider. 'Father' she cried. She threw her shield away and raised her sword slashing every man and woman who came in her line of sight as moved towards the bare chested masked man - Murderer! She ran unaware of the dead bodies that lay before her -friends and enemies but all she saw were those eyes lit with fire through the mask and she could feel the bile rushing to her throat. She bellowed the war cry as she cut the final row of the enemy army line that protected him and it was soon him versus her.
The final entry into the 'Circle of Death' that had a wall of dead bodies all around it with a single opening where she reached. She was lifted by two horsemen each holding her by her arm and they rode away from the battlefield. She saw four horsemen lift her dear Father and rode alongside. And the tribe of what was left rode away from their land. She roared with anger and the winds obeyed her orders and spread message to lands afar.
The inevitable had occurred. The worse was yet to come.
She shook herself to let the thought of that unfortunate day escape her. All in vain! The wind howled and clashed into her black silk robe and she tightened her arms around her shoulder. 'Wind-Keepers' she heard a whisper.
Miles from her beyond the plains & the woods were the mountains... 'Home'.
And in the darkness she saw him standing at the edge of the cliff.
She rose her hand and the children of the wind fought to be the first to rush to her for orders hoping they become her favourite one. With one swift motion of her hand she turned the course of the wind towards the mountains. She clenched her fist and mouthed the words slowly enunciating every syllable,
'One day. One day, indeed. It will be Brutal. Barbaric. Cold. Cruel. Revenge. It will be me and you. And with my two hands I will rip you apart. You shall die in my arms. Die!'
And they nodded and carried the message.
She stood by the banks of the sea watching the mighty sun dive into the vast expanse of water and the sky transforming itself from Vermilion to Prussian blue. Darkness prevailed. She turned to walk back to her house which was a small hut by the sea, marking the end of the territory that belonged to her clan. The so-called homeland. This was not where she was brought up. Her home, the tribe, the land, the mountains and more so the identity of her clan was snatched in a flash. She can never forget that day! The war had ended a little over 4 years now but the wounds were still fresh and they still bled. As she walked past her house down the clobbered path that led to the gates of the city past the evening hustle of the market place, the barbaric war came flashing right before her eyes. 'Usurpers' her subconscious screamed!
The historic 100-day war! The heavens had opened their flood gates during the entire course of the war and it poured continuously. Even He could not bear the sight of watching his creations perish and He cried with rage. They fought non-stop for their land, their right, their honour, their love - their homeland. They were outnumbered. Clearly. They had lost many but not once did they let their spirit break until that moment... when they saw their Chief fall off the horse and it all came crashing down!
As she slayed the first row of the enemy line she turned to find his head drop at her feet at that very moment and his beloved horse flung his body away running into the woods not withstanding the loss of his rider. 'Father' she cried. She threw her shield away and raised her sword slashing every man and woman who came in her line of sight as moved towards the bare chested masked man - Murderer! She ran unaware of the dead bodies that lay before her -friends and enemies but all she saw were those eyes lit with fire through the mask and she could feel the bile rushing to her throat. She bellowed the war cry as she cut the final row of the enemy army line that protected him and it was soon him versus her.
The final entry into the 'Circle of Death' that had a wall of dead bodies all around it with a single opening where she reached. She was lifted by two horsemen each holding her by her arm and they rode away from the battlefield. She saw four horsemen lift her dear Father and rode alongside. And the tribe of what was left rode away from their land. She roared with anger and the winds obeyed her orders and spread message to lands afar.
The inevitable had occurred. The worse was yet to come.
She shook herself to let the thought of that unfortunate day escape her. All in vain! The wind howled and clashed into her black silk robe and she tightened her arms around her shoulder. 'Wind-Keepers' she heard a whisper.
Miles from her beyond the plains & the woods were the mountains... 'Home'.
And in the darkness she saw him standing at the edge of the cliff.
She rose her hand and the children of the wind fought to be the first to rush to her for orders hoping they become her favourite one. With one swift motion of her hand she turned the course of the wind towards the mountains. She clenched her fist and mouthed the words slowly enunciating every syllable,
'One day. One day, indeed. It will be Brutal. Barbaric. Cold. Cruel. Revenge. It will be me and you. And with my two hands I will rip you apart. You shall die in my arms. Die!'
And they nodded and carried the message.
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