The Death Bridge

Axil's mouth fell wide open.

"Whit? Whit did I say?", Brongr asked, utter confusion written all over his face.

"That is Raven's mother."

"Whit?"

"Saerwynn Reytris is Raven's mother", Axil said, dragging his hand down his face.

"Whi-…h-ho-…Are ye sure?"

"It has to be. I saw Raven's memories. The night her parents died, her mother told her that she could do anything because she is a Reytris. I didn't think much of it until you told me her mother's name."

Brongr sat down on the ground. "So…I knew her parents…", he muttered. "Saerwynn made me promise 'at I'll take her child intae my care if our paths should cross, one day. I thought it was silly of 'er tae make me promise somethin' like that. Had I known…"

Axil listened with a frown. "I think that there is more to John and Saerwynn's story than any of us knows, Raven included."

"Ye think they knew more abit the prophecy than we do?"

"Yes. I think that…I think that part of the prophecy is here, in this place." He stayed silent for a moment. "And that I am a part of it."

Brongr's eyes widened. "Whit- how?"

"That night, during that storm when we arrived here, I had a dream." Axil began explaining to the big man, and the latter listened in silence with a deep frown on his face.

"The figure vanished…" Axil ended and swallowed hard. "But then I heard whispers, and a peal of full laughter echoed through the silence. It made me shiver."

Brongr's frown deepened.

Axil looked up and his eyes locked with the green ones. "I had heard that laugh before. Three years ago. The night Aulran was killed."

"And…whit do ye make of it?"

"I don't know. Maybe I didn't hear right. Or perhaps it was just part of the dream. After all, Nira is dead. Point is, why would I have these dreams? Why would I feel that sensation…that…magic? We were both led here. You knew Raven's parents and mine fought against Nira, leaving me with Aulran and thus leading me to know of the prophecy. And we came together. In the most unlikely of places."

Axil held his hand out to Brongr. The latter took it and allowed himself to be pulled to his feet.

"That is no coincidence, Brongr."

"Well. I think we should discuss all of this with Raven. She might know something we don't. We might be able to solve this puzzle…together." .

***

The ruins came into view.

Raven came to a halt. They looked exactly as she saw in her dreams. The same stone. The same structure. The same regal style. And seeing it from the outside, there was no doubt; these were the remains of an old castle.

"Who would build a castle here? Did the royals of Bregaldia live here? Long ago?", Raven asked the wind.

Soon enough, it's whisper reached her ears. "A royal family lived here, once. They ruled with mercy and love."

"The ancestors of Bregaldia's leaders?"

"No. This family ruled over this forest and all its inhabitants. The Shadow Forest hadn't always carried the name by which you know it now. It was once known as the Loinir Woods, and it was inhabited by various wonderful creatures and even people lived here. They were known as Loinirians: guardians of the forest. They lived in it, with it. They were one with nature."

Raven's gaze lingered on the ruins as she started walking again. "That sounds like a different world."

"Ah, but you should've seen it! There was peace. In the Loinir Woods and all of Bregaldia. The magic of the forest made it possible."

"But…?"

The wind whirled closer. "The queen gave birth to two girls. Twins. Identical, except for their hair. One blonde, and the other dark hair. The blonde daughter was named Gezina and the dark-haired one Gehéfna. They were both to rule together when they came of age. "

They reached the ruins and the sun hid behind thick clouds. The green grass and beautiful trees slowly withered. A snowflake fell from the sky and settled on top of the white layer on the ground.

"What is going on?", Raven asked, unease squirming around in her stomach.

"The illusion is fading. Now you see this place as it is. Cold. Dark."

"But what about the valley and…and the lake…?"

"It was all there, Raven", the wind whispered. "Except, nothing was warm and beautiful as you thought it to be."

"B-but-"

"All your answers lie within these ruins, child", the wind said with a soft tone.

Raven glanced at the ruins and unease settled in her stomach. "Alright here goes nothing."

She walked into the castle. Her feet carried her into the same large room as in her dream. "Alright feet, take me to the sword…", she muttered.

She turned towards the entrance of the hallway and cautiously walked down it. She reached the stairway and carefully ascended the stairs. The door to the room was open as if she truly were here before. Raven entered the now dark room, her hand on her sword. "{If that beast thingy shows up, I'll be in real trouble.}"

At the foot of the bed stood the glittering metal ċhėst; the crystal-like vines still wrapped around it. Raven approached the ċhėst and knelt down. She reached out and touched the vines. She carefully curled her fingers around it and pulled. Nothing happened.

"{How do I…Wait!}" Her gaze travelled through the dark room. "{There is no light…}"

She turned her gaze back to the ċhėst. "{So if I use my magic…}" She stood up and backed a few steps away.

She closed her eyes and focused. Soon enough, a faint light surrounded her. She opened her glowing eyes and glanced at the ċhėst. She lifted her hands and stared at them for a moment. A smile tugged at her lips. "If it is light you need, then it is light you shall have."

She felt the power burning soothingly in her glowing veins, rushing towards her hands. She knelt on the cold floor and balled her hand into fists. She slammed them into the floor, releasing the light. The vines on the ċhėst dissolved into black ash and the ċhėst opened.

The golden light faded as a beam of sunlight streamed through the window. Raven smiled. Her gaze landed on the open ċhėst and the sword within. She stood up and approached the ċhėst once more, reaching inside and touching the sword. The metal felt warm under her touch and her fingers curled around the hilt. She stood up, holding the sword in front of her, the blade facing upwards. The sword glowed softly.

A sharp scream echoed painfully through her mind. Raven's smile faded instantly and she winced. Another scream soon followed and Raven lowered the sword, clutching her head with one hand. Her vision blurred and her surroundings changed.

A woman with jet black hair sat on the smooth floor of a torch-lit hall, a limp body in her arms. It was the body of a young man. His white shirt stained crimson, his deep blue eyes wide and lifeless. His blonde hair ċȧrėssed by the weeping woman's bloodstained hand. Her beautiful white dress red with his blood. She tilted her head back and screamed. Raven gasped in pain.

A figure walked in the shadows. "I had to", the figure said. "You left me no choice."

The woman lifted her head to look at the person who walked slowly towards her. Her eyes widened when the figure stepped into the light to reveal a woman, with blonde hair and a regal yellow gown. Raven gasped sharply when she noticed the woman's face – identical to the other's. In her hand, she held a jewelled dagger; thick, dark liquid trickling slowly down the blade.

"Gezina?", the black-haired woman asked, shock written in every line of her face.

" You complicated everything, dear sister," Gezina said, her tone sharp and venomous. "You see, I'm the rightful heir. "

"But how? We are twins"

"That we are, sister, that we are. But you see…we weren't born at the same time. I'm the oldest. Thus the throne belongs to me."

Raven felt her strength slowly fading; unable to release the sword from her grasp.

"Are you really that shallow, Gezina? What would father and mother have said if they saw what you have become?"

Gezina chuckled. "How could you, Gezina? We are your parents…you betrayed us, your sister and this kingdom, Gezina! Shall I continue?"

Gezina laughed loudly for a few moments. "You see, Gehèfna …I know what they would've said because they did say it to me, right after I poisoned them...."