I woke up by a soft thump at my door. Artemis yawned and stretched himself out. First his front legs, then his back. yawned again and leaped on the bed. I saw him coming but was to slow to roll aside. His heavy body landed on my stomach, making me gasp for air. “I’m awake,” I said through gritted teeth.

“Good, we’re leaving. Pack you stuff and meet me downstairs.” Spook’s soft voice spoke.

“Okay,” I answered, while I tried to keep on overly excited wolf not to lick my face. “What’s got into you, buddy?”

Artemis jumped up and down on the bed. His tong lulling out of his mouth, his face in a difficult look. I really need to go. You know what I mean? I can’t hold it any longer. He jumped out of the bed and sat for the door, his tail sweeping. Looking back at me with pleading eyes. I rolled my eyes and opened the door for him. He sprinted down the hall, almost running Jesper of his feet again. “Hela! Watch where you run, strange wolf.”

“Sorry,” I apologized for Artemis. Jesper turned around and made a gesture that it was alright. A big smile appeared on his face when he stared at me. “That nightgown fits you beautifully, little lady.” I felt my cheeks blush and avoided his wide grin, pulling the nightgown lower of my knees. “I’ll see you downstairs,” he said and stalked off to the dining room. I quickly closed the door and got dressed. Packing my stuff together I didn’t have much and still it’d be nicer if my backpack was a little lighter. Reluctant I looked at the room one last time. The soft bed, the clean sheets, the fireplace with the comfortable sofa’s and pillows. “I’m going to miss this room,” I said to the empty space. It be most unlikely I would be sleeping in a bedroom like this again for most part of our journey.

We ate our breakfast in silence. The tong less maid served us some fresh milk and disappeared again into the kitchen. After we had all finished, the tong less maid came in with a small package and gave that to me. I thanked her and saw it were some rations for on the road. But not enough for two. I looked confused at Spook. He shook his head. “So, you’re just going to leave me behind?” I asked him a little hurt. Spook lowered his gaze, hiding the look in his eyes for me. He licked his lips before he spoke. “My part in your journey has ended. I will lead you safely out of the city and return to my daily duties.”

I clenched my teeth and hold in my frustration. How could he say such a thing? I was disappointed for I liked having him around. I slicked away my disappointment and frustration. “Okay,” I whispered lowering my gaze as well. An awkward silence followed until I stood up. “Shall we go? I don’t want to spill precious daylight on my journey.” Spook nodded and stood up as well. I walked to Jesper and greeted him the way I always said farewell to someone. I knew now that it wasn’t a human gesture to say goodbye. But was it elvish? I had no idea. “I thank you for your hospitality and sincerely hope we’ll meet again,” I spoke. Jesper bowed gracefully back. “The pleasure was all mine, young lady. May the stars illuminate your path, little elf maiden,” Jesper answered with a big grin on his face. The elves worshipped the stars for they believed that your soul would live on among the stars. Eternal life, the undying lands. The elves believed the stars were cities where elven souls would live on for ever. I knew my mother worshipped the stars. From her I learned how to greet and say farewell. The fact that Jesper spoke these words, meant he knew more about elves than I thought. I turned to Spook who was already standing at the doorway. “You know the way?” Jesper asked him. Spook nodded, his face hidden beneath his hood.

I followed him through the corridors of this small house. We walked into a bedroom. It was a big room, probably the bedroom of Jesper. Against the wall on the opposite of the entrance, stood a bed. Covered in red blankets and black pillows. On the right side of the room was a window, that looked down into the alley and the entrance of the house. On the left hang a carpet of a veiled black person holding a scythe. He was hovering above the graveyard. Spook closed the door behind us. “Close the curtains,” he ordered me. I closed the curtains, but still a small beam of light flowed into the room and ended exactly on the veiled person. His eyes, hidden in the dark, started to light up. A strange, red light illuminated the room. Something clicked and Spook walked towards the carpet. There he revealed a secret door. “Ladies first,” he gestured towards the darkness beyond it. I took a deep breath and with Artemis at my heels, I stepped into the darkness. It took a while for my eyes to adjust themselves to the dark. Spook closed the door behind us. “Follow me,” he whispered and took a turn to the right.

We were back in the underground tunnels. This time we were walking down stream. I slightly touched the wall and like I expected, the wall lit up. But the pictures and words were broken. Mixed with the cement and stones, the Thief’s guild used to reinforce the tunnels. Such a shame really, Artemis complained inside my head. I nodded in silence.

I was listening very carefully for any sound that wasn’t familiar. And I saw Spook do the same thing. We didn’t want to walk into another demon like creature again.

We seemed to walk for hours. Turning right and left. I had no idea where in Westray I was right now. But Spook seemed to know the way this time.

We turned around the corner and stood in front of a three-way intersection. Until now we always came across crossroads where you could either turn right or left. Spook stopped and turned his head a little sideways. “What is it?” I whispered.

“Be quiet, I thought I heard something,” he hushed me. I shut my mouth and listened closely too. But heard nothing. I closed my eyes and let my spirit collide with Artemis. When I opened my eyes, I looked up at Spook. With my soft paws, I barely made any sound on the ground, when I walked towards the middle of the intersection. I sniffed, and dread rose inside of me. The smell of something rotting in the dark reached my nostrils. It wasn’t a strong sense, and my own body wouldn’t have noticed it. But with Artemis keen senses I could smell it. I pricked up my ears and in the distance, I could hear a slurping noise. I felt Artemis’ body shiver form fear. It was coming from the tunnel in front of us. I tried to see what was in there, but even with Artemis’ keen eyes, I couldn’t see past the darkness surrounding the tunnel.

“It is coming from there,” Spook said to my body who was just standing with her eyes closed in the middle of the intersection. He pointed towards the tunnel but turned around when I didn’t respond. “Hey, little fox, you alright?” he stepped forward and started to shake my body. I felt my concentration ebb away and my spirit was pulled back into my own body. A little dizzy I opened my eyes. “Yes, I was fine. I heard it too, the slurping sound.” I answered my fingers massaging the sides of my head. Spook looked confused and grunted something. Then suddenly Artemis started to yelp in fear. Out of the darkness something dragged itself fort with a terrible slurping sound as if it was still devouring its prey. With his tale between his paws, Artemis walked slowly backwards, growling towards the horrific creature. “What is that?” My voice trembled. Spook held up a small knife. In the faint light, I could see he was trembling, his blade slightly shaking. “Hell has unleashed his demons,” Spook whispered. The creature slowly became more visible. I could see it had no legs anymore, just two weird stumps on the places where his legs should have been. Its entire body was covered with torn rags of clothes. The half of his face was melted away, his jaw, I assumed it was a male creature, hang ajar. Making a terrible gurgle sound. As if trying to speak. This was no demon. The demon I met in the cave, close to Thalor, could change in shape, had complete control over everything. This creature was suffering, in pain. I reached out with my magic and through the gurgling I suddenly heard a human voice. A young man, pleading for food, crying from the pain. I tried to reach deeper into its mind, but something blocked me out. The creature had stopped moving and looked straight at me. I heard other faint voices in a weird language. I think it was the language I found on the scrolls from the demon mage. The faint voices sounded commanding. Suddenly a familiar force pulled me back. Where do you think, you were going?! Don’t switch places with that creature, Artemis’ voice resounded in my head.

“I don’t think this creature is a demon at all. I think it is a living dead man. It follows the commands of a demon mage,” I tried to explain my theory. Spook still with his eyes fixed on the creature, whispered through his teeth. “Good to know, how do you kill it again?”

You don’t, Artemis answered Spook. “You don’t,” I answered for Artemis. Spook’s blade lowered a little. Despair seemed to sweep over him. The creature feeling not threatened anymore started to drag itself forward again. “Which way?” I asked spook. Spook pointed with his knife towards the tunnel the creature came from. Okay, I did not expect that. I took a deep breath and ran as hard as I could. No! “No!” I heard Artemis and Spook yell at the same time. But it was already too late. I jumped over the creature, his long, crooked, fingers reaching towards my ankles. I felt its cold fingers touch my skin. His plead and cry for food and mercy would hunt my dreams forever. I reached the other end, bend my knees and rolled back on my feet. Not soon after that I heard Artemis land next to me. And after another second, Spook also jumped over it. “Run!” Spook grabbed me by my cloak and pulled me with him. Some strange light in the distance illuminated the tunnel. “There’s the way out!” I yelled in excitement. “No, that is not the way out. I don’t know what it is,” Spook answered me.

The strange light came from a small orb, hovering above the ground in the middle of a drawn pentagram. I recognized the pentagram from the drawings of the scrolls from the demon mage. Can we walk around it?I asked Artemis in thought. Artemis grunted something. Yes, we can. But be careful, do not touch the orb. It will take you to a different universe. One you’re not yet ready to experience.

“What?” I whispered and thought and the same time. “I think it is dark magic. Let’s not touch it. I don’t know what will happen,” Spook answered my confused whisper.

Slowly and carefully we walked around it, avoiding the drawn lines of the pentagram and the orb itself. What do you know that I don’t,I asked Artemis. The feeling of fear creeped up on me. Artemis knew so much more about everything. And I had the feeling that it was not because he was older than me. I more had the feeling he was appointed to watch over me. That he is my..

“…Mentor told me about this dark magic. He says that whoever gets involved in the dark magic, will never be able to leave it. You’ll be forever bounded to the dark side.” Spook looked back over his shoulder to me, expecting an answer. “What? Ohw uhm…”

“You’re far away with your thoughts, little fox. I warn you, wandering off in a place you don’t know, can bring evil things back to you.”

“I would never touch any of that dark stuff, don’t worry,” I reassured him with a smile, “I know the consequences,” I whispered, looking back over my shoulder to the place where we left the creature behind. He had some magic. I could feel his connection with the Weave. I wonder if he were a necromancer, before the Fiend took his life.

That night I wrote my thoughts down into Barnabas’ notebooks where he ended.

3E 939- 13thof the ninth moon

Today I’ve encountered a strange being. When I reached out to him, the same way I reach out to Artemis, I could hear his words clearly instead of the gurgling that was coming out of his mouth. He was in pain, pleading for freedom and release from his suffer. He was hungry and crying. It was a young necromancer, for I could feel his connection to the Weave. I reached out deeper into his thoughts and heard faint commands from other creatures, in a strange language. I think it is the same language written on those letters from the mage demon. I have to put the puzzle pieces together. The pentagram, the orb with its strange light, the suffering spirit, the demon mage near Thalor, the story of the king and the fiend that Barnabas wrote about, the strange box found in blackthorn mansion.

My theory:

The high king Talron made a pact with the fiend with the help of Barnabas (and the elfs?). War broke out between mages and non-magical people. Mages split in two groups, necromancers and sorcerers. Sorcerers leader: the Archmage (Barnabas) who disappeared. Necromancers leader: Orion banished son of Talron. War continues. Barnabas feels something is wrong and the finding of a strange box in blackthorn mansion, that was supposed to be in the underworld, confirmed his theory. The deal with the fiend was weakening. Barnabas tries to find the elves and solve the war. Find a way to make people see the greater danger coming towards them from out the darkness. Barnabas dies, I continue his search. I fight a mage demon, he tells me about the Weave a magical river where mages pull their energy from. Something inside me blocks me to completely use my magic. I find a drawing of a pentagram and a very frightening drawing of a dark entity. I find the same pentagram as on the drawing with an illuminating orb, which is a portal to the underworld where the creature came from, according to Artemis. Dark entities walk through the portals into our world, consuming everything in their path. This suffering spirit used to be a necromancer, probably made a pact with the fiend. But the fiend took his life, now he is forever doomed to walk this realm as a living dead man. The dead man follows orders from other demons, so there are demons or necromancers that control these creatures. And can call for them.

Wait a second. A portal in the tunnel has to be created by someone. There is still a demon here somewhere. A mage demon!

“Guys, I think we have to move on,” I whispered to Artemis and Spook. They had just settled down in the darkness close together to keep each other warm and looked up at me, a little frustrated. “Why?” Spook asked irritated. I explained my theory, leaving away certain parts which I thought were not mend for his ears and saw Artemis smile. I knew you’d figure things out. You’ve always been a bright kid.I tried to hide my smile, to look focused and serious. Spook nodded, still thinking about my theory. “May I see your sketches and notes from your findings?” he asked.

“No time, we have to go!” I quickly made an excuse, while I hid away my notes. groaning he stood up and stretched his back. “Fine, if you say so. We’re almost there. Just a mile or two.”

I touched the wall again, so our path would be enlightened by its beautiful white moonlike light. With great caution, we continued our way to the exit of these underground tunnels.

After an hour or so, Spook stopped at an intersection. “Here should have been the way out.” I looked over his shoulder and saw that the tunnel was blocked. Rocks had fallen down the ceiling. “These tunnels are old, and sometimes one collapses. I’ve to report this to my mentor. For now, take what rest you can, I’ll try to figure out which way we have to take now.” After his words, he took the left tunnel and started to explore. I sat myself down to the wall of the collapsed tunnel. Through the cracks, I could smell fresh air from the world above us. I wished with all my heart I could be there right now. The walls were creeping up on me. The darkness was slowly eating away my mind, leaving only fear behind. I dared not to close my eyes, for I knew out in these tunnels somewhere a demon still walked around. Now and then my heart leaped in fear, when I heard a strange noise coming from one of the tunnels. But never did a demon walked out of the darkness. Artemis had closed his eyes and was softly snoring at my side. Slowly I too fell asleep. What I did not notice was that Artemis guided my dreams, connecting them with my memories to the day we met.

With my wooden sword at my side and my handmade bow in my hands, I ran through the forest ahead of Barnabas. “Hey! Wait for me!” I heard Barnabas voice behind me. But I didn’t listen. I wanted to go faster and faster. My feet carrying me away from everything. I wanted to fly over the leaves on the ground. I could see the trees widening, the end was near. I would soon reach the hills and look down upon the little town next to the sea. But I did not see the whole in the ground and my tiny feet got stuck inside of it. With a loud thumb, I fell hard on the ground. I sat up and looked at my hands. There were bruised and bleeding. My bow had fallen out of my hands. Look what you’ve done to yourself. You’re to reckless, little one. A voice resounded in my head. With a shock, I jumped up. “Who was that? Who spoke to me?” Out of the whole in the ground, a small wolf appeared. I knew nothing about wolfs, but I did know wolfs could hurt me. So, my first reaction as an 8 year old was to scream. “Barnabas!!” I yelled. Hush! Hush! Don’t yell, you hurt my ears!

“Stay out of my head, or I’ll shoot you!” I warned him, groping for my bow and a slightly bended arrow. The wolf bent his head sideways and glared at me with what looked like a smile. You have courage, little one. What may I call you?

With my bow, in attack position I introduced myself. “My name is Faelwen, daughter of Eyela.”

Nice to meet you, Wen. I don’t have a name yet, what would you like to call me?

I lowered my bow and looked confused at him. “Why would I give you a name? you’re not mine,” I answered. The wolf seemed to grin and walked a step closer. I simultaneously took a step backwards and heaved my bow again. I won’t hurt you, Wen. Don’t you feel the connection? You’re special, I can talk to you, communicate. I cannot communicate with every human. Only with those who are cursed as my kin would say. I prefer to call it gifted. It has saved my life more often than it has endangered it.

“Gifted with what?”

“Magic, my child,” Barnabas answered out of nowhere. He nodded at the wolf and smiled. “I see you met my friend. How are you doing Buddy?”

The wolf grinned and stretched himself. I’m fine, although I’d love to have a nice hot meal and the comfort of a warm cloak, sleeping in front of the fire hearth.Barnabas laughed. “Don’t you always?”

“Shall we take him home then?” I asked and Barnabas seemed to think about the question but in the end agreed. The wolf seemed very pleased with this thought and started to walk down the path. I put my arrow back in my quiver and followed Barnabas further down the hill to get our supplies in the town. I now did not wander in front of him, but strolled behind him, the wolf at my heels. “Artemis?” I tried the name out. The wolf looked up at me. I like that name, he answered. I smiled. This would be the beginning of a long friendship.

The memory seemed to ripple and change into an event I could not remember. If this was a memory than it wasn’t mine. It took me to Barnabas’ house. I was looking out of Artemis’ eyes, but could not control his movements or words. Artemis was dozing in front of the fire, when Barnabas walked into the room and shook him awake. He slowly opened his eyes and yawned. I could taste the fresh meat he had eaten that evening. “What I’m going to tell you is very important. But she may not know. She needs to discover it for herself. Find her own path and not choose a path because she thinks it would be appropriate to take that route according to her history. Do you understand that?” Artemis nodded and stretched himself. I’ll listen. Barnabas started telling, but the memory faded again and the next moment I saw Artemis looking worried. He was standing next to my small bed. I will always protect her. As a wolf protects his pact. For we are pact.

I opened my eyes in the darkness of the tunnel. Back to the cold and away from all that was safe and warm. I will always protect you too, buddy. We are pact.I send the thought towards him. Even if I couldn’t see his face in the darkness, I could still feel his joy through our connection. My eyes got heavy again and I almost had fallen back into that beautiful sleep, when a sound startled me. Something was approaching. I dared not to move, not even to breath. I kept perfectly quiet and still. “Little fox? Can you turn on the light?” A whisper reached my ears from the dark. My heart made a leap, but I soon calmed down when I realised who it was. I reached my cold and stiff hand to touch the bare, icy wall and the white, blue light danced through the tunnels. I blinked with my eyes to adjust them to the light. “I’ve found another way out, follow me.” I stood up, feeling my muscles protest the coldness and stiffness. With my hand on the wall and Artemis on my side, I followed Spook through the tunnels away from the collapsed tunnel. “How far is it?” I asked in a soft whisper.

“Not far, trust me,” Spook answered me the same way. We walked slowly ever watchful of our surrounding. Fearing we might come across the demon who opened the portal.

After what felt like an eternity I could see a vague light at the end of the tunnel. I let go of the wall, but this time we weren’t overwhelmed with darkness, for a small streak of light tried to fight the black shadows inside the tunnel. “There it is,” Spook whispered and started to walk faster. The light became brighter and brighter until we reached a door. Spook leaned against it and with a loud creak the door slowly opened. We had to shelter our eyes for the bright light from the other side. But when our eyes adjusted, we realised we weren’t outside. We were inside a building. “Spook…” Spook raised a hand to silence me. I listened closely, but couldn’t hear anything. “Alright, I think I know where we are. If my calculations are right, then this should be the temple of Herdus.” I tried to remember the place of the temple on the map, but couldn’t picture it inside my head. When I reached for my backpack to grab the map Spook turned around. “Here is where our path will divide, little fox.” I knew this moment would come, and yet it still hurt. How can I move on without someone like Spook to guard my back? In the short time that I came to know him, I had grown very comfortable with the idea of him always by my side, I started to like him. And now he was going to leave me behind. He saw the distress on my face and walked towards me. A little uncomfortably he put his arm around me and hugged me. At least that’s what it looked like. “You’ll do fine, little fox. I know you will. Trust me,” he said to me, squeezing my shoulders. “Okay,” is all I could answer with a choked voice. He nodded, put on his cap and walked away from the tunnels out of the building without ever looking back. Just like that. I just stared after him a little bewildered, standing there seeing him leave me behind. I don’t know how long I stood there. Tears were burning in the corners of my eyes. I didn’t want to cry over this. But it seemed I had lost control over my emotions. Suddenly I wished Spook would come back, see my tears and change his mind. “I can’t leave you behind like this,” would he say. His words sounded in my head, even though he was already gone. One tear escaped and rolled over my cheek. I quickly wiped it away, not letting myself cry. I couldn’t. Crying is a weakness.

Tears are the words you can’t find to describe how you feel, Artemis comforted me. It’s okay not to be okay.His words broke the barrier my thoughts were creating. I sat down on the ground, my arms around me, feeling completely lost and scared. Scared of being alone. No one knew how much I cried that night. Artemis at my side saying nothing, just being there and making me feel less alone. I knew Artemis would always take care of me. In the end, all I learned was how to be strong. Alone.