Sorine - Legend of the Scroll

By JJ Ollofson

It was late morning, the sun had been up for some time and the castle servants were scurrying to get the food bowls on the table. Sorine's eyes blinked in the sharp light from the upper windows.

"Morning father...I...um...over slept." The king didn't glance up but kept ripping pheasant meat from a bone.

"Out late? Lord Afrons guards saw you take a horse from the stable. I've warned you about riding in the dark" the king broke out in a stern voice.

"There's been talk...strange lights in the forest. Towns folk say it's an omen from the gods." Sorine decided not to share information.

"Yes father, sorry...I think it's maybe just town's folk tales." He looked up.

"Superstitious nonsense I tell you, but we ride out tomorrow at dawn with a legion to investigate" said the king, wiping his mouth with his sleeve. 

Sorine did not answer, took a slice of bread and spread some fig-jam, thinly over the crusty surface. There were lots to think about, the legion knights and the king riding out into the forest, if these light-shadows are not hostile, they may be captured and worse. But what to do -they need to be warned, their intentions showed no hostility, and that's from a week of observing them.

 

Follow Sorine on an incredible and thought provoking epic journey of lost identity, a strange discovery, a new world and a new love. This will truly challenge the search for adventure and perception, on all levels. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: JJ Ollofson
• Release date: Jan 26, 2024
• ISBN: 9798223186472

JJ Ollofson

Juan J Ollofson is described as a visionary author of fantasy, a scholar of science, philosophy and time, who through word and script, manipulate the drafted concepts and align interpretations, so that the reader will find themselves enslaved in the story -a visitor, a onlooker or perhaps a critic, of the things known and those…not spoken about, because there is always a story -by all to be told.    

Book preview

1 Mesmerized

C:\Users\User\Documents\Century21\My Text\Sistem\Jaun\Prep images\Scroll 1.jpg

GENTLY, SATIN SOFT fingers parted the bush grass, just a little -a strange purple-pink glow trickling through towards deep-blue staring eyes, dancing around the dark lashes and eye lines. Soft patterns of colors on silky snow white skin, slightly parted lips and a wisp of vapor in the cool morning air. Shadows were moving in the light, strange figures in orange -the clothing unknown and weird -the face in turn, showing no emotion as the shadows danced by the glowing ‘pearl-of- light.’ Sorine quietly moved cold fingers away from the bush grass and combed back a strand of golden, long blonde hair. The velvet scarlet cape made a soft swish sound in the cool air, a gentle sound of thigh-high black leather boots, moving against the grass. A boot-heel struck the stirrup and with a thud in the saddle, the horse galloped away.  

Sorine steered the horse around the back of the castle outer wall and came to a halt by a small, court-yard boy in local dress. The boy took the halter from Sorine and held the horse steady as the rider stood up in the saddle and grabbed a rope hanging from a low window frame, a few feet up.

Thanks Kelvy Sorine acknowledged the boy and started up the rope towards the window.  

The outer hallway was empty as the boots hit the stone floor and Sorine silently walked back to the bedroom wing, visibly passing a sleeping castle guard with spear in hand, snoring loudly.  

The long leather boots fell to the floor, one at a time and then came the velvet cape, outer garments and tights. Sorine slipped back into the large four poster bed, pulling the Bear-skin spread high, and the warmth on the soft skin cuddling into the thick pile of fur. A mind overwhelmed with thoughts -the strange lights, orange figures and the big pearl -a monster of some sorts...could this be a new enemy?..an unknown  Lord sent from the gods? Then sleep came and Sorine knew no more.

WELL CHILD? KING TRABIAN looked across the long wooden table of the dining hall.

It was late morning, the sun had been up for some time and the castle servants were scurrying to get the food bowls on the table. Sorine’s eyes blinked in the sharp light from the upper windows.

Morning father...I...um...over slept. The king didn’t glance up but kept ripping pheasant meat from a bone.

Out late? Lord Afrons guards saw you take a horse from the stable. I’ve warned you about riding in the dark the king broke out in a stern voice.

There’s been talk...strange lights in the forest. Towns folk say it’s an omen from the gods. Sorine decided not to share information.

Yes father, sorry...I think it’s maybe just town’s folk tales. He looked up.

Superstitious nonsense I tell you, but we ride out tomorrow at dawn with a legion to investigate said the king, wiping his mouth with his sleeve. 

Sorine did not answer, took a slice of bread and spread some fig-jam, thinly over the crusty surface. There were lots to think about, the legion knights and the king riding out into the forest, if these light-shadows are not hostile, they may be captured and worse. But what to do -they need to be warned, their intentions showed no hostility, and that’s from a week of observing them.

AFTER THE KING’S BRUNCH, Sorine went back upstairs to contemplate the next move. Entering the dark forest had become a natural adventure, but these strange beings, who are they...where are they from and why are they here, all questions that need to be answered. Now dressed, Sorine contemplated taking the shining sword lying on the bedroom table, but decided against it. Bearing weapons would not be the way to approach guests to the kingdom.

Guard Sorine called from the balcony overlooking the bedroom wing of the castle. A guard quickly appeared.

Yes my liege? the guard bent at the hip.

Please send message to my horse-bearer...I need to ride out soon. The guard acknowledged and rushed off.  

Sorine hardly ever had Kelvy ready the grey-mare, but did not want to draw attention while saddling the horse, eyes may be watching and report to the king, clearly wanting to avoid more questions. Kelvy discreetly led the horse out the courtyard and around the back of the castle -the usual place. Sorine was waiting, thanked the little boy with a silver coin, mounted the horse and trotted off in the direction of the forest.    

The horse already anticipated the direction and headed down a narrow forest path, this having been the routine for the past week. At a small creek, about five hundred paces into a dense grass area, the horse stopped. Sorine hopped off, rubbed the horse’s nose with a quiet girl -be back soon instruction and crawled slowly the rest of the way in.

The hand slowly parted the grass to look at the scene again, when a sudden rustling sound and a firm hand-grip behind the head, caused Sorine to jump up -but a knee pushed the caped-spine, firmly to the ground.  Sorine stopped wrestling and the grip relaxed, the knee lifted from the cape. The blond hair fell to the side as Sorine slowly turned around, mouth half open in surprise at the view.

There, standing in an amazing white dress, was the most beautiful girl the blue-eyes had ever seen. The eyes roamed across the strange tight dress, with a high collar and round glittering little things, which lined the front from top to bottom down the centre of her breast. The dress suddenly stopped, just below the waist. Long tight, thigh-high white boots adorned the thin long legs, the soles of the boots were strange, the ankle part was raised higher that the front part, making her legs appear longer. Her hands was so delicate, the nails was covered with dark purple paint. Sorine’s gaze fell upon the waist-long dark hair, braided with a golden ribbon in a thick plat.

"Don’t be afraid -I’m Datrine" she spoke with a soft, slightly hoarse voice, placing her hand on her chest.  Sorine got up.

"Sorine...uh...my name’s Sorine." She spoke again.

"Well, please to meet you Sorine" she said and held out a hand in greeting. Not use to this type of custom, Sorine took a pace backwards and nearly fell over.

Not to worry she smiled and the most amazing white teeth, sparkled in the light -we will get acquainted soon.

Sorine heard a shuffle behind her and a little head popped out, covered in a brown canopy, with a smiling face.

Ah, this is Caltrine -my hand maiden she stepped aside and placed her hand behind the little girls head. Caltrine smiled and did a little curtsey. My ledge she said in squeaky voice and then disappeared behind Datrine again.

"Are you the people from the...pearl?" Sorine asked rather shyly, pointing in the direction where the grass was parted.

"Pearl? Oh, you mean my coach -yes. Have you never seen a coach before?" Datrine asked in a surprised voice.

"Uh...coach?...uh, no..It’s a strange thing, I have never seen such a thing" Sorine declared feeling rather ill informed, but the truth is, their people are not accustomed to others, but for the tribes that frequent the immediate vicinity of the land. Sorine ventured out and asked-

"Your dress...there are round things in the front..." She looked down.

"These? They are called buttons, here let me show you" she stepped forward and undid the top one of her dress. It sprung loose from the button hole. Sorine reached carefully with a trembling hand and touched the button, admiring its purpose.

"They made of Ivory...something like cattle horns, you know?" The texture was smooth to the touch.

Yes, I know cattle horns -my father king Trabian has many in the castle on the walls. Datrine lifted her brows.

Your father is a King?..of this land? she asked surprised.

Yes, my father rules the land from the distant-rising, to the setting of the sun. This was also when Sorine remembered again why the early morning ride-out, took place.

"Actually, I came to warn you. My father and his knights will be out looking for...ah...strangers in the forest...he must not find you here, they won’t understand." Datrine fastened her button and said to Sorine,

Come with me, I’ll show you something.

Following behind her, with Caltrine in tow, they walked towards the ‘pearl’. Sorine’s mouth was wide open, a slight mixture of awe and fear as a bead of sweat ran down from the blond hairline. "What...what is that thing..? Sorine’s deep blue eyes wide, inspecting the object of attention. It’s called a coach, it’s plated with gold and has glass windows" Datrine said as she tapped a nail on a glass pane.

"These, are called wheels and it’s drawn by horses...they are behind over there" she pointed to a small heard, some distance away in the grassy shrubs, busy grazing. Datrine opened the door and showed Sorine the inside, all very strange, chairs that are carried by this shiny yellowish coach-thing and drawn by horses, with widows that have water-like plates but see-through.

"I have never seen such a thing -the things you call wheels look like the shields of our soldiers."  Datrine thought for a moment.

Exactly, they roll if you move them, just like when soldiers toss their shields at the enemy. Realizing the usefulness, Sorine noted –

Our people move heavy stuff by rolling tree-logs under them, so this is similar? Datrine shook her head up and down.

"Yes, you right, these are attached to the coach with axels, like logs -but look, this rear axle broke off and this coach won’t be moving again." She pointed to a rear wheel that stood at an angle, broken off on the hub.

"We are stranded here and my Quest may have been in vain." Sorine looked puzzled.

If I may ask, what would be the purpose of your journey? Looking down, Datrine sighed softly.

"Like you, I am also the daughter of a king -my father is King Ostarine, king of the Great-Lands to the north. We have traveled five days since we left our land. My quest is to seek the Southern-People of legend, which we believe to keep a sacred scroll. It is said, that the scroll holds the key to the origin of the world. Those who read the sacred scroll, will gain great wisdom and conquer their enemies. Feeling mesmerized, Sorine asked –

"What is a scroll? By this time, Datrine knew that Sorine is from the isolated-tribes her father spoke about, peoples that lived an isolated existence, removed from the modern society of the time. She looked inside the coach and brought forth a small, log-like object. Slowly she unrolled it and showed the parchment to Sorine. It looked like a hard woven-material, rolled up. Next, she reached in again and in her hand was a short, black stick. Datrine knelt down, placing the parchment on her knee. She started to draw letters with the graphite pencil. Sorine saw the lines. Oh, those look like the drawings on the rocks, by the Far-Cave." She