Dark Vision

Chapter 1

The sun rose over the horizon on the small planet called Vaal. King Eikki stood on the balcony of his
Daughter’s room in the palace looking out into the dawn. His heart was heavy with grief. His broad
Shoulders slumped and he rested his head against his chest. His eyes were red and swollen from
His constant crying. It was now three days after the death of his only daughter. Her room which
Use to be filled with warmth, colors and joy, was now cold, empty and miserable. Lily scented incest
Smoke filled the room to mark the passing of the young princess. Heavy, black, velvet curtains hung
Around the canopy bed and at the balcony doors. No light came from the room nor could any enter.

The second moon, Khons, shone like a bright blue crystal in the dawning sky as it slowly descended
Into the ocean following its twin, Iamar.

“Majesty,” whispered a voice softly. A man stepped out from behind the curtains to stand behind
The king. “Are you well?”

King Eikki, ruler of Arda gazed back at his faithful advisor with sunken eyes and smiled wanly
Saying nothing. Instead, he turned his gaze west and watched Khons vanish into the ocean.

Kotkel, master sorcerer and advisor to the king stared at the stooped over form of his king and
Unshed tears filled his eyes. Dressed in a long, red silk robe and soft leather, low-cut shoes,
He clutched the blue crystal that dangled around his neck on a heavy gold chain. A breeze
Blew from the ocean rustling his short, white hair. He wanted to do or say something that might
Help but there was nothing he could do to ease the pain of his king. Kotkel had given the
Mourning king a sleeping potion twice, but Eikki did not sleep. The potion only magnified his
Grief tenfold.

The city of Verdandi slept warily aware of the silent, tormenting hell in which their beloved king
Had placed himself. Like Kotkel, they could do nothing to help. His wound was too deep as only
A year ago, he had lost his wife to the plague, as did so many others. Now to loose his only
Child to some mysterious illness. The young princess had been ill for two years. It was only
After her mother died that, her health deteriorated before his eyes. She suffered. Oh Lord, how the
Poor child suffered until finally she passed away in her sleep. Kotkel could do nothing.

Even though Eikki was grateful, his little girl’s suffering was over. He missed her so very much.

“My Lord, look,” said Kotkel snapping him out of his deep depression. He pointed to the sky over
The ocean.

Eikki frowned in anger and wished the sorcerer would leave him alone to grieve for his child.

“Tis a star falling from the heavens.”

Eikki turned with a jerk and gazed up. Placing his bereavement aside for the moment. He
Stared in awe as the star with a red tail, streaked across the sky passing over the castle like a
Giant fireball making an awful, teeth aching shriek and crashed in the Martyr Forest behind
The castle.

The city was awakened by the unnatural noise. Everyone rushed outside to see what the horrible
Noise was that had awakened them. In the distance, the people saw a strange red, glow illuminating
The dawn.

A young man dressed all in black burst into the deceased princess room. He wore the black linen
Mourning mantle over his face in respect for the passing of the princess. Dangling on either
Side of his head was a thick braided rope dipped in gold. An arrow piercing the heart of a swan was
Embroidered in the forehead of the cloth. Arild, captain of the king’s soldiers fell to one knee as the
King and Kotkel turned to face him.

“Forgive my intrusion sire,” he said bowing his head. “But . . .”

“I know captain,” said Eikki. “We saw it also. Saddle my horse. I will go with you.”

Kotkel placed a hand on his king’s shoulder. “Are you sure about this sire?”

“Yes. It’s time I thought about the affairs of my kingdom.” Eikki smiled. “Brandewyne wouldn’t
Want me to grieve.”
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A short while later, King Eikki along with his advisor and fifteen soldiers rode out the back gates
Into the forest. A mile into the forest they came upon several burnt, smoldering or burning
Trees. “Whatever the strange light was, has burned a straight line t through the forest,” said
Kotkel shocked.

The king and his men followed the path for an hour until they came to a halt. The horses neighed
And reared upon their hind legs. The heat being emitted was extraordinary. They couldn’t get
Within sight distance of the thing.

“By the heavens, what could possibly be giving off this much heat,” said the captain trying to
Keep his horse under control.

King Eikki dismounted and looked at the ravage that was caused by the fireball. “I do not
Know. We will wait here until we are able to go further.” The soldiers dismounted and Arild
Ordered his men to put out the fire.

It was midday when the heat from the falling star had disappeared. They quickly mounted
Their horses and rode until they came upon what had caused the destruction. The men
Sat upon their horses staring in awe at the huge, twisted thing that was partially buried in the
Ground with a large gapping hole in it. Dismounting King Eikki walked cautiously towards the
Thing. “Stay back,” he told his men.

“Sire, it could be dangerous,” said the middle-aged sorcerer worried. “Let one of the men go.”

“Let me sire,” said Captain Arild.

Eikki shook his head and continued towards it. His heart pounded against his chest. His fingers
Closed and opened into fists at his sides. Raising a gloved hand, he touched the thing. A
Searing pain engulfed his hand. Yanking his hand away, he removed the glove and sucked his
Burned fingers.

“What’s wrong, sire?” asked kotkel.

“I’m all right,” said the king with his fingers still in his mouth.

“Are you sure?” asked the captain. He and his men dismounted.

King Eikki nodded his head. “It’s metal.” He looked at the metal thing from top to bottom.
Deciding that the thing was not dangerous, he turned to his men. “I’m going inside.”

“But . . .” Arild and Kotkel was about to argue his decision. But Eikki flashed them both a stern
Withering glare that silenced them both. He turned to the gapping hole, swallowed a lump in
His throat and stuck his head inside. He made sure not to touch the hot metal. He stared in wide
Eyed wonder at the small flashes of light that sparked at random. Wires hung like thread from
The control panel. Large chunks of metal lay strewn like pebbles on the floor. A chair was
Half through the port hole windows.

King Eikki looked in horror at the chaos inside. He gasped. Trapped beneath the wreckage, he
Saw a tiny figure. It was a child. Beside the child, he saw a woman.

“What is it, sire?” Kotkel called out while craning his neck trying to see inside.

“A child!” Eikki yelled. He lifted the piece of metal off the girl throwing it to the side. Then he
Lifted the girl and cradled her in his arms. He walked out carrying the limp, battered body of
Of a small girl.

“There is a woman,” said Eikki looking at his captain. “Bring her and be careful. The outer shell
Is hot.”

“At your command,” said Arild. He walked over to the thing swallowing a lump in his
Throat and cautiously stepped inside.

Eikki laid the girl on the ground and knelt over her. He placed a hand on her chest. He smiled as
He felt the rise and fall of her chest.

“Is she alive?” asked Kotkel.

The Ardan King nodded his head.

“I believe this one is dead, my lord,” said Arild bringing the woman and laying her next to the
Girl. Eikki rested his hand on her chest. She was still. He lowered his head and sighed. Then he
Turned his attention back to the girl.

“Look at their skin,” whispered one of the soldiers spellbound.

“Lovely,” said another.

“There is none on this world like them,” said Kotkel thoughtfully.

“She comes from the heavens,” said another soldier.

Eikki eyes glittered sadly, as he remembered his own child, now dead. Lovingly, he brushed the
Hair from her face revealing a long bloody scar slashing across her left eyebrow. It went down
To her temple hitting the cheekbone and down to her chin. He took out a large cotton handkerchief
And mopped up the blood. He pressed the cloth against her face to stop the bleeding. Her eyes were bruised and had purple rings around them both.

“This child from the heaves is alone, as am I. I shall take her as my own.” He stared down at the
Dark brown skin girl and brushed the hair from her forehead. A crescent moon with a starburst
Dangling at the tip was in the center of her forehead. He smiled. “She shall be known from
Henceforward as Astra, Princess of Arda.”

King Eikki mounted his horse. Then the captain handed the small girl up to him. He held her
Close to his chest and kissed her forehead. Two men was left behind to guard the metal ship
And to watch over the body of the woman.
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It was night as the first moon; Iamar rose from behind the forest. Master Kotkel sat in his chamber
Reading a passage from an ancient book.

Once in a time since has long pass, the people of Vaal banned together to fight the demons
Of the Hungry One. The war between good and evil raged across the face of Vaal as both the
Almighty and the Hungry One fought their war. The great cataclysmic battle that took place
Nearly destroyed the world. But by the grace of the Almighty, the only damage done was the
Land broke off into several other continents separating the races, read Kotkel. He closed
That book and opened another book called, ‘Prophecy of the Ancients.’

As the sorcerer Raiford looked into the Flame of Tomorrow, he foretold this future for all of
Vaal. A child like none ever seen on Vaal, shall fall from the heavens and thus the Hungry One
Shall arise from his eternal slumber in the murky depths to lay claim upon the heaven. She
Shall be his mind and soul. She will lay waste upon Vaal.

But a man with a heart of fire and a will of iron shall tame her heart with his love. His love shall
Free her from the Hungry One. And with a love that is brighter than ten thousand suns, she will
Vanquish the Hungry One.

Kotkel closed the book and sighed. In his hand, he held a small piece of paper. He went to his
Window, held out his arm and a white pigeon with a black head perched itself on his arm. He took
The bird, tied the note to its leg and tossed it out the window. The bird flew out over the ocean.

“Hurry little one,” Kotkel said watching the bird until it was no longer visible. “Time is of the
Essence.”

Kotkel closed the shutters to his window and sat down. He sighed gravelly, opened the book he
Just closed and read another short passage. He rubbed his eyes tiredly. “Now, if this girl turns
Out to be a sorceress. It will mean that the prophecy will come true, and heaven help us all.”