Forced into Fantasy 2

Chapter 17 - Flames

Ivy;

It took a long and gruelling walk down the mountainside, but we’ve finally arrived in what I can only explain as a massive village formed within the very belly of Whittaker Forest.

As I look around I’m somewhat confused; I thought she’d agreed to take me back to Castle Dahvan to meet with Adomis. I decide it wouldn’t hurt to ask.

“Lynnoma, pardon me for asking but I thought you were taking me back home?” I enquire as carefully as possible. I do not want to alarm her in any way. “Why are we here?”

She turns to me, her left brow lifted high up on her face.

“Our village is on the way to the castle, my dear. And what with all of your troubles, I thought you may wish to have food and take rest…” she pauses and frowns, “…unless I have overstepped in some way?”

“No! No! Not at all...” I assure her with a smile. “Food and rest would be lovely. Thank you for the kind gesture...”

I pause, suddenly realising something.

“Sorry, is there something I am supposed to call you? I heard one of the others calling you ‘My Kirrah’ earlier on. Isn’t your name Lynnoma?”

She lets out a soft chuckle beneath her breath and smiles.

“My Kirrah is like saying… My Queen, in your language. I am their ruler and protector and it is a form of respect that they bestow upon me.” she explains.

“Oh. Well then, should I call you that as well? You know, as a form of respect? The last thing I would wish to do is disrespect your form of culture in front of your people.”

She shakes her head, still smiling.

“I like you.” she looks me up and down for a moment in silence before adding, “Lynnoma will be fine… for now. Come…”

I follow along after her as the other warrior women behind me drag Ronaar along, still bound and gagged behind us.

By now he’s given up struggling against them and merely walks along between the two largest ones. His eyes are still blindfolded, no doubt to protect the location of their hidden village, so he must trust them to guide him along safely.

He can not see what I can.

Looking up, I notice that there are homes hanging high above us in the trees, secured by large branches and solid foundations made entirely out of wood.

‘It’s full-on Robin Hood out here, it’s incredible!’

I smile as I watch several of their children running around playing with one another. They appear to be kicking some kind of large red seed around with their feet. I frown as I notice their bare feet, which I might add are not like ours.

Instead of having five toes they only have two long, wide toes secured at the end of each of their feet for balancing.

‘Yep… definitely not human.’

“This… is our village.” she holds out her hands, gesturing towards the amazing surrounding we are not standing within. “Our home and sanctuary.”

“It’s incredible.” I remark with a smile.

Lynnoma goes on as we continue to walk.

“Our kind has lived here in peace and prosperity for many centuries now, totally hidden away from the rest of the world and all its dangers.”

I feel a sudden wave of sorrow wash over me, as if she and her people had experienced something terrible happen to them in the past. I have no idea where it comes from, but I feel as though it consumes me.

“You are, of course, our guest. You can stay here as long as you need.”

She turns to me and smiles kindly. I return her smile, although a part of me wants to continue on my journey home, back to Adomis. I push the thought aside and decide to enjoy some time here with them, as offered.

‘I mean, why not?’

“Thank you, Lynnoma.”

-

After I am shown to my own private hut strewn high up in a large thick tree, I look around at the comfort I have been bestowed with.

There is a large bed positioned in the middle of the hut and a window overlooking the entire village on the side.

What looks like a large wash tub filled with water sits to the right corner along with what appears to be several soft white towels sewn from something I can not recoignise. Steam wafts upwards from the wash tub and I can tell the water must be warm.

Then finally I sight the clothing piled on the surface of the bed. It’s a native’s outfit… for me.

As the Noridian woman who had escorted me up here goes to leave I call out one last thing.

“Oh, I wanted to ask. In relation to your captive, the prince…”

She turns back around to look me in the eye as I continue to speak.

“What will happen to him?”

“That is not up to me, my lady. That decision rests solely upon My Kirrah.” she replies almost void of emotion.

Holding her hand out and gesturing back towards my hut, she speaks again.

“Please, settle yourself in. Bathe and dress. You will be called upon and escorted down to the dining area when dinner is prepared.”

With that she nods her head, turns and leaves. I am left to wonder what they will choose to do with Ronaar. Not that I could care less. The bastard tried to manipulate me into having s*x with him for crying out loud!

But I can’t seem to rid myself of this nagging part of me, pulling at the seems and desperate to learn his fate.

‘Why the hell do I care?’

Letting out a long sigh, I decide to do as suggested and make my way over towards the hot water tub. It’s smaller than a bath tub would be, but larger than a bucket.

I decide maybe the best way to bathe would be to stand inside it and drizzle water down over my body. And I do exactly that.

Stripping off my dirty, torn and stained dress, I step completely naked into the wash tub and revel in the glorious warmth of the water.

“Oh, that’s so good!” I speak aloud, not caring if anyone else is nearby.

Looking down I notice that there is a small cup located in the wash tub and I fill it with water, lifting it up and drizzling it over my bare-naked body. I then scrub away the dirt and filth from my soft skin, a little bit at a time.

I repeat the process over and over until I feel much cleaner, then leaning out and reaching for the soft towel-looking material. I take my time drying my body, enjoying the soft sensation of the fluffy material. It’s nothing like the materials we have back in my old world.

Much softer, like a cloud sliding over my skin.

Once I am dry, I walk across to stand at the bed, looking down at the clothing that has been left for me. Picking them up, I eventually figure out how they fit and dress myself as one of them; as a native.

Soon after I am called upon and requested to attend their dinner and of course, I kindly oblige…

After all, a guest must respect her host.

-

Adomis;

I stand still and ready, staring back at the insidious creature with its hauntingly white eyes locked on me. My sword is gripped tightly in my right hand as my fingers squeeze even tighter. My dark eyes narrow with focus.

“I will not allow you to lay a single hand on Ivy, do you hear me?” I bellow angrily.

A strange and yet subconsciously familiar sensation begins to envelop me, circulating around and around like an invisible tornado of heated power as my rage comes to the surface.

Suddenly my sword bursts into flame, burning a bright red-tinged fire the likes of which any of us have ever seen before. It’s some sort of magic, but how did it appear?

My eyes flick to the burning blade and its almost as if I know what I am capable of doing. I can feel the growing power, surging from deep within me as I lift my gaze once more and stare the intimidating creature down.

For some strange reason, I am not afraid of him.

Balzard’s eyes suddenly flick towards the sword, aglow in all its glory and his expression changes, only slightly. I’m not certain, but I can almost see a small amount of fear in his eyes as he looks between both me and my fire sword.

“It can not be.” he announces softly to himself, though loud enough for all of us to have heard him.

“I killed you already, so very long ago...”

Now it is my turn to frown in confusion.

‘What does he mean by that?’

‘Who does he think that I am, exactly?’

Before I have the chance to question him further on this bizarre topic, the demonic entity suddenly disappears into a thick cloud of smoke.

We all watch in wonder as the smoke all but evaporates into thin air within a matter of seconds and then it is quiet once more.

I am left standing there even more confused now than I was before. I have to wonder what all of this could possibly mean...