sffworld.com - Blogs - Dari, the sword of freedom by Nadejda

Chapter 5, part 6

Nadejda — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 03:00:19 GMT

But it was not too scary � now when she was more and more feel like stainless still sword she even can�t imagine pain of this process.
Rina turn her head to Dari and said: � It is not the true- you�ll feel pain even when united with the sword, you only will not be able imagine how it feels before you�ll get hurt.�
�Rina, you know this time your words and the fact that you are answering my thoughts were not so surprising for me as usual. Do I�ll get the power to understand your thoughts as well?� �Yes, you will, because we are sword and shield which are meant to be together. But it is not very good thing- I mean hearing my thoughts, because you are not ready for most of the thing I know.
And again, who knows better- may be it will be good to you to learn as quickly as possible.�
�Let�s go � we will have a lot of traps on this road,� Rina turned to the direction of their path and continue to walk.
They followed her though they were exhausted by the run they took from the fire, they understand and Dari knew for sure from Rina�s thoughts that they should go forward no matter that.
After a few steps Dari suddenly heard the hissing and movement in the darkness. Boomush and Hairy definitely hear it too and most of it, they saw the creatures who produces these sounds and this picture made their fur stand up.
Dari saw how the picture of shield starts to arise around Rina again and Rina said to her �Stay behind the others and rise the sword- we will be able to create the shelter around the others and do it quick- they are coming.�
Dari wanted to ask who are they, but first she moved in the end of group and raised the sword- the light from the shield connected with the light from the sword and now they all were like in the light protective fabric. And because of this light they now could see the creatures who are going toward them- there were thousands giants worms who were reaching to them and trying to broke the defense of light. Worms have teeth very sharp and deadly and tried to bite the light fabric. They were hissing and even growling and again the voices were similar to Ieronim�s voice.
But the protection cover which developed between Rina and Dari was very strong and worms can�t brake it, moreover each time worm touched the cover his skin started to burn and in a few minute all worms had been in flame- this flame lights the cave and shows the strange pictures on it�s walls.
When all worms had been destroyed Rina goes near the wall and takes a closer look on the pictures. �Dari, come here,� Rina points to the wall and in her eyes Dari sees the light of victory. �Here is the complete instruction how to find the amulet.�
But Dari was suspicious: �Rina do not you think that it could be the false instruction to lure us to the next trap?�
Dari was worried that it was so easy to find this instruction so it most probably would be false. �Do not worry,� Rina was very happy,� The text of course shows the false direction and false method, but it shows the way we do not suppose to go so we can see the right way.�
�It is too complicated for me,� Dari shaken her head and took a look to others who didn�t understand it either. �No matter,� Rina smiled and return to the path. �In time you�ll see that it is very easy
�Fine with me,� Balder turned to Dari, who still was very quiet, because she tried to figure out what Rina said. She looks at Balder and smiled, thinking that she will figure out it later and for now she should continue to walk and be ready for all new surprises Ieronim got for them. But the images from the wall would not let her go. They still float in her head especially one there she saw the sword very similar to her own and girl who was rising this sword and girl was look exactly like her-Dari. � How it could be?� Dari was so surprised even shocked that someone few hundred years ago (the pictures sure looks like they were drawn ages ago) could paint her portrait on these walls.
Rina smiled again and as usual answered to Dari�s thoughts:� It is not you it is the last girl who was united with the sword.�
�But why she looks exactly like me? � Dari asked in great agitation. �She looked like you because only girls similar in the characters and other abilities could be united with the sword. And it is not very rare when there are a few similar persons in one century or in a few centuries. However sometimes it is hard to find right person, or in time when sword is ready the right person just appear in the doorstep of the shield like you did.
�So you knew that I�ll be united with the sword all along, it is why you gave me this sword in the first place?�
�Not exactly,� Rina smiled by the side of her lips�I offered this sword numerous times throughout past few centuries to some girls but they would not match or sword was not ready, or time was not right. And I didn�t know will you match, or is sword ready now, or is it right time. I didn�t know all of this before your dream. Only then I understood that you are she and the time is right. But now we should be focused on the path not on the conversation. I hear that our new challenge just around this corner of the wall. �
And she was right � there was something or someone but nobody realize that it will be the challenge. They see beautiful girl lying on the sand and covered in blood. Balder wanted to run to her but Rina stopped him.

Chapter 5, part 5

Nadejda — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 04:41:59 GMT

After a while three dark silhouettes came from the forest and each tried to kill one of the human but didn�t pay attention to pets.
When the first one reaches Rina she touched him and he fell down with the groans. Dari pushed the one who approached her under the knees and he felt too and Hairy with Boomush attacked the one who was trying to get Balder, but in this case he didn�t want to kill Balder, he just wanted to drag him into the forest. This attempt fail either because Hairy and Boomush were very serious and angry and only Rina�s voice stopped them from tearing this person apart.
But was this a person at all?
These three some things were some kind of skeletons who had been wearing dirty and old clothes with the old fashion swords in hand�s bones.
�I think that I know who they are,� Rina puts her hands above the skeleton �They are the people who helped Ieronim to create his hiding place and after that he killed them all and now using to protect his cave.
� How can we ask them about the road to it?� Dari was disappointed, she thought that now they could not use these persons to find the way, since skeletons do not speak and appear that they lost any signs of life which they had before.
�We can get the road from them- for this we do not need them to speak.� Rina continue to hold her hands above the bones while saying it.
� I can see that happened with them from some memory fields which still surrounding the bones. It was horrible: these people were disciples of Ieronim and they believe in him very much, they thought that he is great and wise, and even some kind of demigod, they went away from their families and friends and helped Ieronim in all his preparations to create the hiding place. He told them that he will lead them to heaven, to immortality even, but all he wants from them were their work and their money- they were rich people and all their treasures they surrounded to him. After their work had been done he killed them by poisonous vine, which he prepares for their successful ending of work party.
They didn�t realize that they were dying- they just fell asleep and never wake up. Before now, when Ieronim awoke them to help him once more. But he did well for us not for himself. Now I know the road and it is not very hard. Even I know all the traps along the road. So when we will enter the tunnel you all should go in my steps not try to move ahead or right or left from me. And it is to you Boomush also- you are not heavy as human but some traps are created to stop animals too.�
�And I have an idea how to revive Balder- I�ll use Ieronim�s own spell�s energy from the spell he cast to revive the skeletons�. Rina took few bones and starts to move them above the Balder, who still was unconscious. Dari was looking with very great interest on this ceremony. Also she thought about her feelings toward Balder- at first she doesn�t like him- of course who would like someone who tried to kill you and take your sword? But after all they all had been through she starts to feel warmer about him and it was not a secret to her that he was feeling even warmer about her. But now she does not feel anything- may be it was the process of unation with the sword which took away from her all warm feelings. She felt that this process was going deeper and deeper with every moment. Now she could feel the energies of outside world and understand the action her companions and not only their but the action of Ieronim too.
She was awakening from her thoughts by Balder�s loud voice:� Did I miss something? I feel like I was dreaming a long time? �
�Yes,you were dreaming,� Rina dropped the bones to the ground, �and I am afraid that after a few more hours your dreams could became your permanent state.�
�What happened? � Balder tried to stand up but it was too difficult for him.
�Ieronim tried to posses you again and his battle with my amulet drove all energy from you, but now I was able to lift his presence using his own spell which he putted to the skeletons of his disciples, whom he sent to attack us. It is the short story and I do not have time for the full variant, so let�s go. I see that it would be difficult for you to go at first, but it will improve fast. For now you can use the help. Dari, give him your hand and this staff could help too,� Rina gave him wooden staff, she found near their place.
It was obvious that Balder has a lot of questions but he understands that he should do as he told. He tried to stand up this time with the help of Dari�s hand and the staff and it was successful. Now they all were ready to go. Rina took last look on their small party and said once more:� Do not go left or right from my step because it could be fatal for you- understood?� All shaken their heads and they enter the cave from there skeletons arrived in the forest. It was dark and quiet place but Rina made herself to glow in the dark and they all followed her without the problem. After a while they start to feel better and think that may be there were no traps or may be these traps had been disabled by time or previous visitors. But soon their hope was broken by dozens of arrows which shoot in front of Rina. She definitely knew a few moments before the shooting that they will be here and stopped just in time to let them pass her without any harm.
She turned to others and said:� See there are the traps- so do prepare your selves.� And they continue the path. After a while they spotted the light in side corridor . Rina took a look at it and said- now we should go quick as we can- this light is the fire which will reach us in a 10 minutes if we would not hurry.� All tried their best to run after Rina, who seems to fly above the ground . It was good that Balder regain his strength to this moment and could run as good as others, because with him still tired they would not be able to overrun the fire.
Still it seems difficult or even impossible but Rina obvious knew that there is something that will help them to get rid of the fire. And it was true- in a few moments they reached the lake with the stone bridge across it and they all ran trough the bridge with the hope that fire would be stopped by the lake�s water. And it was stopped. Part of the fire tried to reach them on the bridge, but Rina managed to lift the water from the lake and put it on the bridge. They were standing on the other side of the bridge looking how fire was jumping and running near the water on the other side. They even heard its angry voice which had been very familiar to them because it was Ieronim�s voice. It voice cursed them in old language and Dari only understands that it was promised to get them and skinned alive at best.

Chapter 5, part 4

Nadejda — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 06:42:52 GMT

�All right, let�s talk about later,� Rina took a look to the cave there Boomush spotted this great danger and she decided that they wouldn�t go there. But how do they will get to the Ieronim�s cave?
�Let�s go scout the island- may be we will see something which could help us.� And Rina moved to the right to avoid the cave�s entrance and to circle the stone. Suddenly in front of her the fountain of sand arises and started to turn into the human figure which were 10 or even 15 feet tall.
�All right, � Rina ducks to avoid the sand�s sword.� So, I recall, we are going to the right direction. Let�s move quickly�
� But what do we do with this sand person?� Dari ducks too and came closer to Rina.
� Nothing� Rina whistles and Boomush jumped on the stone behind the figure, Hairy barks with the all power she has and this sound echoes, multiplied by stones starts to fly around them and the sand figure, causing the strong vibration in sands it was made of. Boomush added his voice to this enormous sound and the sand�s particles dropped to the ground with hissing.
� You see,� Rina turned to Dari,� It is not hard and we can leave such tasks to Hairy and Boomush- they like to play with such big toys,� Rina smiled .
�Let�s go and be cautious- we can meet more of these surprises�.
The party finally moved forward �Rina and Boomush first, after her Hairy who was pulling Balder and Dari in the rear end with the sword in hands and ready to fight all surprises in the world.
But nobody came after them or arises in front of them and they continue to go for a half an hour without interruption. The stones around then exchanged to woods and soon they were inside deep and dark forest. As soon as they heard the voice of small creek Rina said: �Let�s rest here and after that we will see what to do more clearly�.
Dari helped Hairy to put Balder on the grass in more comfortable position and decided to go to get some water from the creek but Rina stopped her :�let�s Hairy and Boomush sniff the water- it seems to me that there is no good things in this forest and water could be the new trap for us� And she was right. Hairy and Boomush instantly turned their snouts from water and bark and hiss to caution humans do not try to drink it. � As I thought,� Rina turned to Dari� It is some kind of sleep potion and I think we can use it in our advantage- let�s pretend that we are drinking it and falling asleep and see what happened. I think that somebody will go from hiding to kill us and we can try to capture them and get the right direction to Ieronim�s cave from them�
Dari shaken her head and pretend that she is taking the water from the creek drinking and giving to Rina, who pretend to drink it as well.
Hairy and Boomush didn�t want to go near water but they agree to pretend to fall asleep. And soon they all were sleeping on the ground, snoring.

Chapter 5, part 3

Nadejda — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 04:06:03 GMT

Unfortunately all these preparations and plans were for nothing, because while they tried to land, the great wave arrive from the island and pushes their boat from it. It shows that it was the right island, which was good protected by Ieronim, and to land on it they need to do some miracle for which they do not have time. Wave dragged the boat toward other island and dropped it broken on the ground.
At least they all were unharmed and rushed to go from the sea toward the big rocks, because second wave just was grown in the sea and it was look like it has intention to sink them down to the sea bottom.
Hairy was dragging Balder who still was unconscious and Dari helped her. Rina was standing facing the new wave and trying to keep it from the island. She did it but was very tired from the battle.
�I think I will be able to keep new wave from arising a few moment but we had to go in the cave under these rocks,� she said .
Dari saw that it is really only one chance to escape the waves but if they do so it would bring her dreams to life and she will have to unite with the sword.
�Yes� Rina as usual answered to Dari�s thoughts� it seems like we could not change the direction in which Ieronim wants us to come, but may be it wouldn�t be so bad for use as he imagined�
�How so?� Dari was scared of Ieronim, of uniting with the sword, but still she was trying to keep herself together .
�It will be possible that this scenario will benefit us more than him�, Rina took a look toward the sea and continue: �But now I do not have time to explain, we should run for our lives, quick, quick.�
They run as quick as possible with unconscious Balder in their hand. The first who reached the rocks was, of course, Boomush, he didn�t help to carry Balder, but even if he wants to do so how could he?
And he preferred to scout the cave for them. When Boomush took a look inside the cave all fur on him raised. He starts hissing and growling like screaming: �Do not go inside, stay out of this horror I see there:� Rina ran to him and asked: �What is it you see? �
He turned his head to her and meowing like saying- :�I can�t describe it because it is too horrible and I do not have words for it. Just stay out of it.�
�All right,� Rina calmed him by putting her hand on his head.
� We will not go inside if we will find the way to defend ourselves from these enormous waves.�
She turned to sea and tried to measure the possibility for breaking these waves before they would reach the island. It seems impossible but taking a look on scared cat, which never was not only so scared, but never was scared at all, and they were in all kind of scarring situations before, she understands that she has to do something with waves or the situation which awaits them inside the cave could be much worse.
It was hard to imagine what kind of situation could be worse than to be smashed by these waves, but she should trust cat�s instincts. She thinks a few moments and asks Dari to take the sword out and point it toward the waves :�Just keep it in this position and I�ll try to put some energy on it to form the protective shield which would destroy the waves.�
After saying it, Rina stands up near the sword�s end and Dari, while trying to keep still, noticed by side vision how Rina starts to change- golden rays of energy starts to flow from her body picturing the big bright shield in front of them and suddenly Dari understands that Rina had been united with the shield of Universal protection, like Dari will be united with the sword of Freedom. This shield was shinny silver and gold with some strange picture on it: silver and gold hands were touching symbol with sea and sun and ancient letters created beautiful surrounding for this symbol. Dari can�t understand the writing but she feels the great energy irradiated from this symbol.
The sea from the symbol starts to expand and rise and at one moment it moved toward the Ieronim�s waves and crushed them into billions of drops with enormous power and sun from shield evaporated these drops in a few seconds.
Right after the waves were crashed the silver and gold shining going from shield or Rina ( Dari can�t say who or what were more shinier) starts to fade and soon there were only the small group of people and pets standing near the stones on the vet sand. Rina was so exhausted that she can�t stay and Hairy rushed to her. Rina almost fell to her warm hairy back and hugs this big friendly dog who was willing to let her Master use her energy to restore the powers.
After a sometime Rina was able to stay and lead the small group again. She turns her head to Dari :�I know that you saw everything, it shows that you are already start the process of unation with the sword- ordinary people wouldn�t see shield and sea crashing the waves, they would see only miraculous wave disappearing. So we can�t do anything to stop this unation and let�s not thing about it now. We have to find the way to get to the amulet before Balder would dye from Ieronim�s efforts to posses him and my amulet�s efforts to stop it.�
Dari shook her head and says:�I know that the process had begun and now than I know that you had the same process I do not afraid anymore. In fact I feel good that I�ll be closer to you by this event.�

Chapter 5, part 2

Nadejda — Sat, 18 Sep 2010 07:13:20 GMT

It was too much for Dari and she awake with the loud cry. �What the matter?� Rina turned to her.
Dari told her the store about her became the sword of freedom. Rina took her hand and said:� It is the truth- you can unite with the sword and became the one with it, because after your training you start to understand and feel it like you feel yourself. It happened before with other people who were using this sword. Now the sword chooses you to be his continuation. It is not so scary how it may look like- you would not became iron still thing- you�ll be still human being, but the sword will be connect with you very strongly and you�ll exchange the energy and this energy would be multiplying when goes from one to another and will be never end. Also nobody else will be able to use the sword � in the hand of the other person it would became so heavy that it would not be possible to lift it.�
�It all the good sides,� Dari said,� but I feel that there are a bad sides of story too�.
� You are right, some problems could appear when person unites with sword- you will not be able to unite with your own kind- people, you �ll never married and never have children. But it is too early for you any way and after a while it may be possible to change the conditions of this unite.�
�Rina, you said that there were others before me who was united with the sword- what became of them now?�
� It was very long ago< I was told about it by my teacher, and she was told by her teacher so the complete stories are mostly myths- and as all myths it about fight not common life- so I know that they fought good and won their battles but what they do after that � it is in the shadow of time.�
�Al right, I�ll unite with the sword if my dream will come true,� Dari said.
� one more precaution� Rina turn her head from the moon light, so Dari would not see her face� It can appear that after you�ll became the one with the sword his property would became yours- you�ll be cold, hard and unemotional, love can leave you, instead you�ll be using your mind not heart. It happened with the most people who were united with this sword, but there was one case when person still had love and warm heart even in this unit. Unfortunately it is not possible to say how it will be in your case. Are you still willing to try it?�
� Yes, I am willing to try it- I had no choice because I want to win this battle and the battle with Dantest and do not see another way to do it.�
�I do not see another way either� Rina sights heavily and it was the first time when Dari understand that with all her knowledge and powers Rina still fragile woman, but in the next moment Rina�s eyes shine like cold and hard diamond and Dari thought that the moment of weakness which she saw in Rina minute ago was only in her imagination.
�But I think we will figure something out when it will come to us� Rina was still the same ever self-confident great Master who knows that in every situation are at least two exits and one almost always in the same place there the entrance was.
Meanwhile the wind increases and they arise the sail. Boat starts to accelerate and in a few moments they arrive in front of two islands. Dari somehow knew that one of this island content the real cave and another was fake which she saw in her latest dream, but she couldn�t realize which island is real. She told Rina about her doubts and Rina tries to see inside the island- but she can�t. Islands were well protected from anyone by the power of Ieronim.
But there was one flow in his protection- he made it from people but he could not know that some animal might try to lift it- and there they are- Hairy and Boomush together. They combine their efforts and after a while pointed to the right island by their snouts. Their faces were so happy that they were able to help people and Hairy�s tail almost created the vortex follow her exaction.
�Good friends,� Rina said � thank you so much, we will go to this island� She turned to Dari and Balder and notice that Balder is pale and cold, it seems that life almost left him , only slight breath was the sign that he is still in this world. �Ieronim is again tying to posses him and the power of my amulet doesn�t let him, but this battle is too hard for Balder, I am worried about him. We should go to the cave quickly or it could be to late for him�, Rina was explaining the situation to Dari, Boomush and Hairy, while they were trying to awoke Balder. �Let�s leave him in the boat with Hairy and Boomush- their warm and energies would keep him alive, and we will go together to retrieve the amulet�
�Yes,� said Dari, but Boomush was not agree with this decision- his waving tale and shiny eyes were saying:� I would go with my Master, without me she could get hurt�
�My dear,� Rina puts her hand on his head� I understand your concern, but we should protect Balder, or you think that Hairy would do it alone?�
Boomush said :� Meow� as like �yes� and Rina suddenly agreed with him-:�All right, you�ll go with us�.