Definitive Collisions Of Fire And Ice

By Ferdinandt Johann Pretorius

Fire and ice: Two opposing forces. Two worlds apart. Strong, powerful and capable of destroying anything in their wake, but when these forces collide, then even nature watches on in awe. Born to fire, Zerumian initially struggles to make a living in an otherwise normal world where very little around him can survive the heat coursing through his veins. He grows up in solitude, and when the fire continues to rage beyond his control, he makes the decision to leave home and seek out the cold mountains in the north, hoping to find the solution to his quandary. Born to ice, Loriaden initially enjoys her life along with her friends and family and mesmerises them with her ice sculptures and creations. Things remain relatively calm and stable throughout her life, until reality began to set in. Perplexed by the increasing lack of control, she continues to freeze objects every now and then, which eventually ends up with her freezing an entire room in a hotel one night. Frightened by the experience and nightmares, she rushes off towards the mountains just north of her town, hoping that the blizzard would pass and that her life would return to normality.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ferdinandt Johann Pretorius
• Release date: Jun 18, 2020
• ISBN: 9780463713938

Book preview

DEFINITIVE COLLISIONS

OF FIRE AND ICE

Ferdinandt Johann Pretorius

What happens when ice and fire collide?

Some say that ice melts while fire freezes

Others say the one destroys the other

But I say when ice and fire collide

You get a beautiful collision

I know. I was there. I saw it

Copyright © 2020 Ferdinandt Johann Pretorius

Published by Ferdinandt Johann Pretorius Publishing at Smashwords

First edition 2020

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or any information storage or retrieval system without permission from the copyright holder.

The Author has made every effort to trace and acknowledge sources/resources/individuals. In the event that any images/information have been incorrectly attributed or credited, the Author will be pleased to rectify these omissions at the earliest opportunity.

Published by Ferdinandt Johann Pretorius

Contents

Foreword

Prelude

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Epilogue

FOREWORD

To my dear friends and family

I’m sure this book must have come as a surprise to many of you and I imagine that, knowing who I am and where I come from, you might be wondering how on earth I managed to pull it off, because I almost never finish something I start. Well, those closest to me would probably think that and you wouldn’t be wrong, but things are quite different now and to explain it to you guys in full would probably require a book on its own. Not only that, I will probably bore many of you. So, I will merely give a very concise version of it here.

As you all know, I am a Christian, but so are most of us. That’s nothing new. However, there is one parable and one verse that are very pivotal to my life. The parable took root in me many years ago and the verse only recently, but together, they opened my way forward and I have never looked back. I never will. The parable I’m referring to is of course the parable of the sower. It is very dear to me. In fact, it’s so dear to me that I utterly and completely refuse to run or chase after money, fame, power, titles of any kind and generally whatever else we can idolise on this planet and all that just to make sure I never become the seed that fell among the thorns. That is how serious I am. It has affected my life severely, but only insofar as my way was still unclear. Which brings us to the second point. I never found a reason to work hard and give my everything in this life until the verse took root in me. The verse I’m talking about is Matt 6:33, which says seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. This one took very long and I fought through pain and hardship over the years, but I persevered. There’s a lot more to the path I have walked of course, but I have no need to explain it here or to elaborate on it. My goal may also have no direct connection to the verse, but the one thing I seek and the one thing I aim for above all else is to become the ultimate person God made me to be. Meaning that I will strive to maximise any and every single ability/talent He has given (to his glory of course) and if writing is one of them, then you can be sure I will take it as far as I can go.

Now that you know these things, ‘How does the book fit in?’, you may ask. Well, I never expected to finish it or even write a decent story (which remains to be decided), but one day I saw a movie and then began to picture a different outcome of it. Being kind of fed up with watching and reading movies and stories played and written by other people, I decided to write my own story, and this is what I produced. Why fantasy? That’s easy and my online gaming friends, who know me as Ligan, would be able to tell you quite easily. I simply love and enjoy the genre and without that love for it, I would probably not be able to write anything good. Furthermore, I may be a Christian, but I make a distinction between reality and fantasy and I keep it that way. That is extremely important. I do not believe in or condone magic of any kind and that is also how I want you guys to read and enjoy this book. So, there you go. I love you guys now and forever.

Prelude

The winds picked up, and lightning flared across the darkening sky to the west of the Khadin Mountains in Accarundi, which were roughly situated in the middle of the largest continent in the world. His name is Tazendower and he is one of the Guardians of earth. He usually enjoys visiting the high mountains to watch the thunderstorms approach and then to stay for the rain afterward, but not all the storms in the world were natural or indeed pleasant to watch and experience. Some of them were darker, fiercer, and more sinister and deadlier than the other, and those ones were usually the omens of death and destruction. He watched again as a fork of lightning twisted evilly in the distance towards the west, and he knew that the deadly trees, poisonous plants, and electric machines were once again on the move. They were Contador’s forces and they usually went wherever the deadly storms went. Contador was his brother and the other Guardian.

He hasn’t come to keep watch over the world tonight or indeed to initiate a counter offense. He came there because his mind was set on his course of action, and he needed to make peace with it, which was not an easy thing to do. When it comes to humans, things could go either the right way or the wrong way, and therein lies the problem. He’s been protecting them for all the long years, but without much success. Contador would never back down until every one of them, evil or benign, is killed and until every civilisation was destroyed and laid to waste. That was the decision Contador made when Antunari (and humanity) fell from grace, and he hasn’t turned left or right from that path. He still recognized that righteous and good-hearted people lived in this world. They did not deserve to die, no matter what others may or may not have done and it was mainly because of them that he would never give up. Humans on the whole were loveable, kind, and caring, but they can be very self-centred and heartless. One could hold them dear to the heart, and yet they could stab you in the back just as easily, and they could bring disaster and ruin on themselves and on the environment. He knew these things well and it was therefore difficult to make a choice.

He gazed down on the towns and villages that were enclosed behind the high walls of the Darkmoon Spire like blossoming flowers in a garden nursery. All was peaceful for the moment and everything was carrying on as it should, but he knew that the peace would not last. None of the citizen here have seen the wars of the past and having cut themselves off from the world they were largely oblivious to the comings and goings of the things outside their own. He understood why they didn’t concern themselves with the larger things anymore, but it was foolish nevertheless, for death could come on them in a blink of an eye. If not for the more important task of sufficiently equipping them for the years ahead, he wouldn’t have spared a second thought to protect them. Pity that sacrifices will have to be made, but it is what will be needed. He shook his head and sighed deeply.

Good evening sire someone greeted him from behind, breaking his reverie. He turned his head and spotted three men walking towards him. They were tall for their kind, and each one came from a different city in Accarundi. Two of them sported beards of varying shapes, colours, and sizes, and the third one was bald.

And greetings to you Reykin, Hansu and Azeroth, he replied. You’ve been following me around like a shadow these days, but I didn’t expect you to journey all the way to the top of a mountain, on a night like this he said. Why is that I wonder? He asked them curiously. Reykin spoke up first.

Begging your pardon sire but knowing the truth and of who you are, I’d say we have nothing to worry about he replied, sounding completely self-assured and unafraid. He smiled softly, and he cherished the man’s confidence in him.

That won’t be the case for very long, but for now, yes, you are right. You’re in the safest place you could be, Tazendower said.

Is it true what you said about the impending disaster and the destruction of humanity? Hansu asked. His voice was filled with anguish. He briefly looked at him before gazing down to the towns below. These three were the first humans whom he entrusted with the truth, and they were also the first to have seen him in his true form. They weren’t perfect, but they have proven themselves trustworthy, pure of heart and true of spirit over the past twenty years and he couldn’t have asked for more exceptional people to carry out the most important task in all of history.

Yes, but only if we fail to act and see to it that the world is properly prepared. It will be your task to see that it is done. The world will also undergo a complete transformation, and many natural things will die out. That is indeed unfortunate, but there’s nothing else that can be done about it. I have done all that I can on my part to protect humanity and the world for as long as possible, but I’m afraid my work alone will achieve nothing more. It’s been well over a century since the last great battle between Contador and me, but it is time for a different course of action, and from here on, I entrust my power fully and completely to the creatures of this world he said, looking at them very sombrely.

It’s the only move I have left to make, and my only hope is that it won’t be in vain. You are to go out into the world and search far and wide for people capable of uniting it against the enemy. I will also tell you how to choose them, for that will be extremely important. If the wrong person is entrusted with my powers, it could spell ruin to us All three of them frowned and glanced at one another uneasily.

Sire, what exactly are you talking about? Azeroth asked. Are you leaving us? he asked. He was the youngest of the three, and he had clung to him the most.

No, my spirit will always be with you and in the very fabric of this world, but I can only do that much, he said. There is no other way. Can I count on you to see it through to the end? He asked. They were still too shocked to answer him straight away, but he knew the thoughts in their minds and hearts.

Do not be afraid and do not be troubled, I will guide you as best I can, and I will still be here as long as humans tread this planet. But, for now, let us go and begin the preparations. We have much to discuss and much to do, he said and led the way when the first lightning cracked close by.

Chapter 1

Carla

While the sun was dancing golden-yellow on the waters of the bay, Queen Carla smiled softly as she felt the little footprint pressing inside her. She was standing alone on the stern of her pristine caravel, looking out in the direction of the harbour and to her husband’s shrinking figure in the distance. Standing pensively by himself, King Lionel’s face never hinted at the storm that was brewing inside, but the young Queen knew her husband well, and she could only imagine the thoughts racing through his mind. War was at their doorstep, and the outcome was uncertain. He sent her away from the danger of one kind, but the seas were also rough and perilous, and there was no knowing whether she’d survive or not. She was fearful for his life too and the lives of his men. He had good reason to stay and fight, but it did not make her feel any better and nor did it calm her heart in any way. In fact, considering everything that has befallen the nations over the past few months, she was surprised Ashrenturinba was still standing. With the city slowly shrinking away, she couldn’t help but feel as if everything she loved and cared about was likewise fading ever so slowly into darkness, never to be remembered or experienced again.

Lionel had promised that he would return to her arms of course, as any fool would, and despite his assurances, the reports from the East about the army of the twisted monsters only confirmed her greatest worries. There are whispers that they are demons who were spawned from a wicked place to wreak havoc in their world. Whatever the stories, she was confident that their destructiveness was the result of some form of bewitchment, for they sounded like the monsters from old and forgotten tales and they’ve blazoned across the land like a swarm of locusts, devouring and decimating city after city with a seemingly insatiable thirst. None of the kingdoms to the east have withstood their assault thus far, and no one had a clue as to how to deal with them nor the equipment and weaponry to use. In the past, whether by pure luck or by some mysterious fate, a great catastrophe would usually befall the creatures, and they would burn, freeze, blow, or crumble away. But none of those things have happened yet, and how Lionel planned to defend the city against an assault, she didn’t know. Why he stayed was a great mystery to her, but she knows that men will be men. It was only by her deep trust and love that she had gathered enough courage to board the ship and leave the shores of Accarundi for the safety of a foreign land. He would never be reckless with his life or the lives of his men, but he would also not withdraw from a fight or abandon a seemingly hopeless cause. She cherished that about him, even though she was the one to eat her own words sometimes.

Moving her gaze from her husband, she surveyed the warriors standing on the parapets and the walls encircling the bay area. They were tired-looking and battle-worn, and a few waved goodbye to loved ones, but most of them had dark, grim looks on their faces as if they were trying to stay focused on the task at hand. Many would probably not survive, and her heart went out to them, for she knew what courage it took to face the darkness. The normally boisterous wildlife was quiet and watchful, and the air was thick with the anticipation of the coming clash. She shivered suddenly and hugged herself. It all felt so unreal.

‘Will I ever return to Ashrenturinba and find its splendid halls, gardens, and forest labyrinths still intact?’ She wondered. Unbidden, tears slowly began to roll down her cheeks. She never wanted to leave her beloved city, and she never imagined it would happen in her lifetime, but there she was, sailing away from it and she thought again about all the warriors who have died and of all the cities that were burned and raised to the ground since the start of the war.

‘How will they survive this?’ She thought miserably and gulped. She closed her eyes and gripped the railings tightly, breathing in and out to steady herself. ‘I am Mrs. Lionel Régenoff,’ she told herself sternly, ‘and if my husband can face these demons, then I won’t shrink away.’ What must come, must come, she decided. The city’s fate was not in her hands, and worrying about it won’t change anything. She wished she knew why these things have come to pass and why the forces of nature have abandoned them. Where was the fire that burned the creatures so fiercely? Where were the ice shards that fell from heaven, impaling or freezing them all over? Where was the great wind that blew so many years ago? Where was the light that shone into darkness? Where were the shadows that gulped the creatures down to the depths of the earth? Where will their help come from? That was the question on everyone’s mind, and no one understood why things have changed. Have all the stories of old been lies all along, or was this simple punishment? She couldn’t help but wonder if something was terribly amiss in the world.

The current state of affairs started roughly three moons ago. Things were merry and jovial. She was with child, and the king ordered a weeklong celebration. It was joyful in the beginning, and her emotions were on an all-time high, but the joy was not to last, for she became terribly ill. The illness was indeed severe, and physicians and healers from across the country attempted to cure her, but all proved to be fruitless. Her condition steadily worsened until eventually, the king desperately offered any person one-tenth of his kingdom if they could procure something that would save her life and the life of their child. Many others tried and subsequently failed, save for one mysterious traveller who said he came from a distant city to the far east. He looked quite out of place with his peculiar dress and assortment of devices. Long hair framed his face, his features were stern, and he was tall. How he had learned of her illness, no one knew, for he kept a closely guarded secret. Most people believed he must have been a wizard who used a magical elixir because after drinking from the golden vial, the disease immediately left, and she walked as if nothing had been amiss. They were amazed at her quick recovery, but when questioned, the wizard refused to divulge any of his secrets, which greatly annoyed the physicians and healers. The king was not perturbed and decided to honour the man by arranging a feast and granting him the rewards he had promised. But he declined the promised reward, to everyone’s great surprise and the nobles frowned at him, for no one in history has ever refused such a gift before. But seeing as he did the impossible, the king insisted he stay for the celebration. He was still adamant about being on his way, but he waited for the feast. After the festivities, the king bestowed on him an heirloom in recognition of his great deed and bid him farewell.

The joviality was short-lived yet again, for it wasn’t long after her recovery that they received the ill news of the monsters that have appeared. The kingdoms to the east near the Asher, Roshlue, and Duscartan Mountains were first attacked, and their kings soon called for aid. The creatures had no conscience for mortals, and they struck fear in the hearts of many, but the Kortégons were full of courage and answered the call. It was mostly anger that drove them. They managed to gain the upper hand on the enemy in the beginning, but every time their warriors made headway, the enemy somehow bounced back with new and even stranger reinforcements. It was most vexing to the kings and commanders, and the councils between them became more frequent and fervent as the cities continued to tumble one after the other. The war was more troubling and challenging than anyone expected or envisioned, and fear took hold of them. Some tried to spur the people on with the hope of the past, but few were willing to give them an ear. King Lionel got more and more anxious as the army approached Ashrenturinba, and she knew it was only a matter of time before the city was attacked. By the time the enemy had conquered more than half the territories from the Asher Mountains to the southernmost point of the Roshlue Mountains and even all the way as far as Ravenhill city, King Lionel decided it was time for her to depart the precarious shores, along with the rest of women, the elderly, and the children. He had also sent messengers ahead of them to the allies across the Telidakian Sea, calling for aid and alerting them to the situation. Word has not yet returned, but the enemy was too close for them to wait any longer.

Returning to the present, she watched as the sun sank behind the few scattered clouds in the distant horizon. Behind the hills to the east, a reddish glow ascended into the darkening sky above and stretched across the horizon like a flaming tongue. It was an eerie sight, and it gave her the chills. As they neared the bend in the river turning west and down the estuary, Ashrenturinba’s torches and beacons lit up and transformed the city into a darkish forest of speckled fairy lights that lay between pillars of rock and granite. She sighed heavily, hugging herself.

My lady, her handmaiden, Kitanna, whispered behind her back. Captain Durrack kindly requests that you retreat to your cabin below deck until we’re safely out to sea. She turned her head slightly and nodded in response but waited until the city was completely lost from sight before she went downstairs. That night when they were well out to sea, she eventually fell asleep and had a very peculiar and troubling dream. It was unlike any dream she’s ever had before, and she often recalled the memory afterward, for it stayed with her for the rest of her life.

She found herself standing in a wide-open valley before a solitary mountain in the middle and with beautifully coloured trees of different shapes and sizes surrounding it and stretching as far as the eye could see. Mountains were also standing farther away in the distance, enclosing the valley like tall and proud sentinels. It was a beautiful place in all respects, the kind of place she could stay at for eternity and be satisfied completely, but the image didn’t last very long. The earth beneath her began to shake and vibrate as with an earthquake and the mountain in the middle of the valley started to rock and shudder. The shuddering grew more violently and fiercely, and a fire suddenly erupted from the vent of the mountain. It fired high and, in all directions, and the molten chunks burned everything in its path. She was caught by surprise, and rage overcame her like a rage never has before, for the beautiful land was being destroyed like vapour before the wind. The fire continued to pour forth from the mountain, burning and scorching the fields beneath it and even unto the mountains at the very edge of her sight. The flames never touched her, but it felt as if her heart was burning inside of her. While the fire still raged fiercely, a gust of cold wind began to blow from the north. It coalesced into a white horse on a high hill to the north with a very bright and shiny coat. The beast looked magnificent and glorious, and the fire couldn’t touch it. As she gazed, it turned its head towards the mountain in the middle of the valley and started to gallop towards it at full speed. She squinted in amazement as it charged. It cleaved its way through the burning tree and flaming bough as if they were not even a slight hindrance to it. She noticed it had a horn attached to its forehead and its light shone brighter and brighter the closer it came. She watched curiously still, wondering what it was attempting to do. Realizing that the creature was charging straight towards the mountain, she tried to move to stop it, but her feet were rooted to the spot.

Looking on helplessly, she held her breath for the last few paces, but instead of seeing a horse crash into the mountain, the mountain and horse suddenly exploded violently and with a tremendous force that knocked her backward and off her feet. When she found her feet again, the cacophony of sound and trembling earth just seconds ago had gone, and there were quietness and serenity all over the valley. The fields of grass were also green and fresh, and the mountains in the distance were all back to their original shape and form. To her great surprise, though, a very tall and beautiful tree stood in the middle of the valley, exactly where the mountain had been. It was the most extraordinary tree she’s ever seen in her life – white, red, and yellow, and it had shades of blue in between its bark. No other tree could match its splendour and glory. Clouds were also billowing far above her head, engulfing the land in a grey blanket, and rain fell softly. The tree stood out even more gloriously in the twilight, and its leaves shone bright blue and yellow. She gazed everywhere around her, feeling lost in a wonderland, and the memories of the destruction were forgotten entirely and wiped away. A few flashes of lightning caught her attention. It was soothing and pleasant to watch and listen to, but the storm became fierce and terrifying after a short time. The rain also fell more heavily and pelted down from above like little watery darts. A strong wind picked up from the east which continued to grow in strength and power such that the trees in the valley were all swept up and blown away, except for the tree standing in the middle, which was the only tree able to withstand the onslaught. The tempest was relentless, and the lightning flashed fiercer than ever, even setting the mountains in the distance on fire once more. Chaos and pandemonium reigned and to her surprise and sorrow, she saw a mighty whirlwind pick up from the east, twisting and turning with the clouds above feeding it. It was something monstrous, and something she’s only read about in strange tales from travellers to distant lands. She now feared greatly for the tree standing alone in the middle of the plain amid its fallen brethren, for the twister was strong. She had no idea what would happen next, but just as the twister closed in and was about to collide, a lightning bolt flashed from above and struck her head-on, waking her up in an instant.

She woke with a start and screamed. She also looked around wildly as if expecting to see the twister coming straight at her, but she only saw the inside planks of her cabin. She felt as if she’d run a race and her heart was beating fast inside her chest. ‘What kind of dream was that?’ She wondered and sunk back down onto her pillow again, breathing a little easier now that she knew it was only a dream. Her heart was still racing wildly. She thankfully closed her eyes and listened to her heartbeat slowing down, like the waves gently lapping against the side of the ship from outside. She heard running footsteps on the wooden planks outside, and Kitanna quickly came rushing in.

I’m fine, Kitanna, she said immediately, holding up her hand. It was just a bad dream. That’s all. Kitanna stood still at the doorframe, unsure of what to do, but decided it was best to say nothing and she simply nodded.

Carla didn’t have the dream again after that night, but it plagued her almost daily, and she kept wondering what it could mean or why it was so compelling. In the end, when she couldn’t make much sense of it, she decided to let it go. ‘Dreams are often manifestations of fears,’ she told herself. She had plenty of reason to be afraid, and that was the only conclusion she could come to concerning the mysterious dream.

The voyage across the Telidakian Sea was indeed rough and unpleasant, and it pushed the crew and the passengers, especially the children and the elderly, to the limit of their endurance. It had no patience for mortals or for their need of haste and whether they lived or died was not its concern. It was a cold, hard reality, and it even took them to the brink of losing all hope. Being pregnant with a child, she had more trouble coping with the conditions than anybody else, but she forced herself to stay keep going, and she thought about her child’s future when her hopes were getting her down. Everyone was getting miserable too, and food had to be rationed, for the journey was taking longer than they anticipated.

After many weeks of toil, exhaustion, sickness, and even death, the land finally broke the otherwise endless stretch of water and her mood visibly lifted when she saw the coast of Entalio, the vast continent to the west. She had longed to see land, and it was hard to imagine that a mere five months have elapsed since they set out from Ashrenturinba. She was incredibly relieved, but also thin and in desperate need of rest. For her, with all her emotions going up and down and fighting against the stress and sorrow that was always knocking on her front door, the trip had felt like an eternity. By that time, she was very near to giving birth. Thus, everybody disembarked with extreme haste when they docked at the coastal city of Kata’lowa, one of the chief harbours of the Aigons. Londalin Farros, the Kortègon ambassador, welcomed her party, and he immediately saw to her and her royal entourage’s needs.

My dear queen, the messages and plea the king had sent were well received by the Aigons, and they are more than willing to assist us. The emperor would also like to hear news from you as soon as possible, he informed her.

Thank you, and of yes course, I’d be happy if to speak to him as soon as possible. But for the moment, I’ll need to rest. This journey has taken more out of me than I can spare. Is he in the city or somewhere else? she asked.

He is currently in the Oasis of Calbero, which is their Capital city at the base of the Dawkin Mountains some hundred kilometres inland. We’ll be leaving for it once you are ready, my lady, and I assure you, it will be much more comfortable and safer than the journey on the seas. The lodgings at Calbero are also better than Kata’lowa, but of course, I have prepared it as best I can. He apologized. She nodded and smiled in response.

And I assure you, after the seas, even a wooden cabin on a remote island would be more a welcome sight, she answered with a smile.

She was obviously glad that the Aigons have accepted them and the gifts that Lionel had sent. There were other important matters that she had to discuss with the emperor too, but those things could wait for the moment. They sat up a temporary camp in a valley towards the north of the city and sailed upstream two weeks later towards the oasis.

The journey upstream was indeed a far more pleasant experience than the trip out on the open seas, and the image of the city nearly blew her breath away when she saw it. Ashrenturinba had beauty and splendour of its own, but this city had a different kind of beauty altogether, especially with the glorious and magnificent mountains and forests standing right over the city. The Aigons loved colour, shape, and patterns, and they had used it on almost everything in their city. From the statues, the walls to the gardens and even on the people themselves. Their dresses were also more colourful and patterned. The city was conically shaped around the young and energetic waterfall, and the houses and buildings were all built concentric from bottom to the top along the gentle upward slope towards the base of the falls. Trees and colourful gardens interspersed the houses from the centre outwards like veins on a leaf, and the market place was built across the river, like a wide bridge that connected the two halves with one another. The palace and the temple (which were easily the two largest buildings in the city) shouldered the mountains and hugged the river on either side. It was clear the architects made extensive use of the landscape, the mountains, and the trees to shape the city. It was exquisitely done, and she loved it from the moment she laid eyes on it. The ship glided gently into the quay and the crew got off. The emperor and his party were already waiting by the docks to meet her and her party. He was a beefy man with a pronounced moustache and dark brown hair, but he was spirited and gentle.

My queen from the land across the sea, I am delighted to see you, he greeted her with open arms and a big smile on his face. His English was extraordinarily good for a foreigner, and it caught her by surprise.

I didn’t know you spoke our language so well, she remarked after greeting him and stepping away from his embrace. He did have an accent, though, but he clearly understood English. He beamed.

Oh, not very many people around here still speak the ancient language, but we of royalty never forget our roots or where we come from, he told her. I see you’re pregnant with a child too, He remarked.

I am, she answered him with a faint smile, and it’s about time the infant is born. I’m really quite fed up carrying him or her around, she responded in kind. There was no jest in her voice, but he wasn’t sure how to react to that, and simply carried on.

That is… good. We Aigons normally regard it as a good sign. A woman who cannot bear a child is a bad omen, and she is normally banished, he said as calmly as ever. That caught her by surprise and she, in turn, wasn’t sure how to respond to that. She nodded and gulped.

Why don’t we get you to our sanctuary then? It’s a place of peace and rest, and our healers are more than capable of helping you. We have also prepared accommodation for you and the rest of your party, he said.

Thank you for the hospitality, she answered.

It’s what we do, he beamed again. The attendants helped her and the emperor into the carriage, and they set off at once.

How has the trip been across the sea, if I may ask? he asked. I’ve never travelled over waters before, and I’m curious to know.

The sea… the sea is both beautiful, rough, and dangerous all in one. I’ve sailed on waters many times in my life, but it’s the first time I’ve been so far out on the sea, and it’s not something I want to experience again, I can assure you she answered dolefully, but we made it, and that is all that matters. He nodded in response.

True, true, he said. Perhaps I will sail when we have a bigger ship then. Do you know if your men have won the battle yet, or are you still waiting to hear news from them? He asked. She shook her head. There was no way of knowing whether they’ve succeeded or not.

We’ll know soon enough, but I only hope they survived. Our nation has suffered too much over the past few months, Carla replied.

It is good to hope, he said. It’s the only thing that keeps a person going in dark times.

Indeed, it does, she answered. I need to discuss something else with you, she said, changing the topic as she didn’t want to brood on the outcome of the war. I know we’re strangers, and we don’t have the power to decide where we go from here or what will come of us as a nation, but I need to know if we are welcome in Entalio she asked. He didn’t hesitate to answer.

My dear queen, we have traded with the Kortègons for well over three decades now. Our land is also open and vast, and it stretches from the Dawkin mountain range all the way through to the Tri’tessaren Mountains in the middle of Entalio. The Loritanians have settled further north, but there is no bad blood between us. They merely departed to the north when our ancestors landed on Entalio nearly one and a half thousand years ago. There is enough fertile soil for you and us, whether for a brief time or for a long period and besides, because of our love for gold and silver, my people have mainly settled along the Dawkin Mountain range to mine the ore. So, even if you can’t return to your homeland, there’s enough room for you and your people to live wherever you choose to. But I’m sure you’ll want to hear news from your husband first before you make your choice, yes? he asked kindly.

Yes, obviously, I still need to wait for them, and I would not like to make the decision on my own or in haste but thank you nevertheless, she answered, relieved.

You’re most welcome, he replied.

As they made their way through the city, many of the Aigons rushed out of their homes to watch the procession passing by. It wasn’t every day that they got to see outlanders in their town. Even the children stopped playing to watch, but they carried on playing when they saw nothing of interest to them. When they arrived at the sanctuary, they laid her down on a stretcher and carried her up the stairs, through the great front doors and to a light and spacious chamber. The healers also administered a soothing draught to ease her discomfort, and she fell asleep almost immediately.

She was nursed back to health within a few days, and she was extremely grateful for everyone’s assistance. She couldn’t thank them enough. The Aigons were a nation of friendly and strangely trusting people, which she found peculiar, because not very many people were as friendly natured as that. She was looking forward to her stay. However, fate seemed to have a more sinister plan in mind. The day of her delivery came soon after her arrival, and that was the day when things irrevocably changed for the Entalions and for the whole world.

She was lying on the bed at the time and almost ready to give birth when the walls and the pillars of the sanctuary began to shake and vibrate. It brought everyone and everything to a halt, and it filled her with superstitious dread as she immediately recalled the dream, but now more vivid and real. The quake was the last thing she wanted to feel or hear. The Aigons weren’t particularly vexed by the vibrations, and they assured her that earthquakes and tremors were not uncommon phenomena in these parts of the world, although they did think the timing of the quake was rather peculiar, especially considering that she was about to give birth to her first child. She obviously had nothing to say, but she lay there looking up and the ceiling in terror. The tremor passed, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief, but it only lasted until she finally delivered her baby. At that very point, the earth beneath them shook again, and more violently. It was clear that something was going on deep inside the mountain. The healers immediately went over to her and shielded her and the child. Dust particles floated down, and a few debris cluttered onto the floor. Anxious minutes passed by, and everyone waited for the quake to die down, but it never came. It never relented. Instead, the earthquake intensified, and a massive explosion went off somewhere far above their heads and towards the mountain peaks, which startled and surprised everyone in the room.

The blast was powerful, and it tore at the foundation and walls of the building with tremendous force. Her eyes were wide and staring, and the picture of burning flames flashed through her mind. A few of her attendants rushed to the windows to see what was happening outside, and she turned her head towards the windows to get a better view. She spotted one to the west and saw a dark greyish cloud spreading fast and menacingly across the sky. Some of the Aigons were panic-stricken and hastily took off, but the healers and Kitanna quickly rushed to help her out of bed and onto the stretcher. She was still weak and exhausted from giving birth, but it was either leave or die. Those were her choices and she knew which one. They hurriedly secured her and the baby to the stretcher, fingers shaking from adrenalin and fear, and they made their way downstairs as soon as they could. Every now and then a heavy boulder crashed into a building, and they heard the ghastly noises as they were going through the tunnels, which were often followed by anguished and terrified screams. It was the scariest thing she’s ever experienced, and she feared that the tunnel would cave in on them any second. She was greatly relieved when they finally emerged, but then she saw the ugly picture before them. The once tranquil scenery of the buildings, trees, and flowering gardens was now a heap of burning chaos, and ruin and lava were flowing copiously down along the mountainside, and fiery rocks were flying from the vent