Progress was arduous while peril mounted by the minute! The swamp was humid and musty and the moon played hide and go seek through the tree tops as the couple moved furtively through the brush.
“Ka’diysh, do you really think we’ll get through this?” Sa’nah asked nervously.
“I’ve told you before, where Jzhan Crys'tell guides He provides.”
“But how can we be sure this is the right path?” She questioned.
The older man stopped and looked at his young charge. Taking her by the shoulder, his words were comforting and reassuring. “He's not called The Light of Ki’ Shara for nothing you know, He promised to show the way. He said that His Spirit would teach us and guide us in ALL things and I trust Him. This is what He said to do.”
She knew why her father trusted Ka’diysh. He was the most outstanding of all The Rab Ma’ghi and when offered the Office of High Ma’ghus he respectfully declined so that he could continue serving her family. This so impressed her mother that she asked him to become Sa’nah’s personal Mentor...
The howling snapped Sa’nah out of her thoughts!
Legend had it that the mere howling of a Baewolf was enough to stop a man’s heart!
She understood why!
The sound of each howl released a fear that seemed alive, a liquid terror that seeped through the skin, paralyzing the organs within. As the howling drew closer panic stampeded through her soul – She became rooted with fright.
The first beast leapt into view and Ka’diysh spun, eyes blazing, “FOUL TERROR! I SAY THEE NAY! STOP AND BE STILL!!” His hand outstretched and index finger pointing to a spot directly between the beast's eyes.
It slowed and began stalking. Two more creatures joined and formed a semi-circle around the Adept and the girl.
Ka’diysh had encountered the beasts before; He pulled Sa’nah close, wrapped his cloak around her and squared off with the Black-Hounds of Shi’ades!
The closeness of Ka’diyshs’ body alleviated her fright somewhat so that Sa’nah recovered her motility and peeked from under the cloak.
The beasts all looked the same, pure black with blood-red slits for eyes, saliva dripping off their razor-sharp fangs, with claws that could dismember a man in seconds.
The term “Baewolf” was actually a misnomer, as these creatures had almost nothing in common with traditional wolves. Their names were given on account of their legendary howling but if anything they more resembled the mythical black panther of folklore, although much larger and infinitely more ferocious.
They were growling as they circled now, so deep and low that it sounded like distant thunder.
Unfortunately, there wasn’t anything distant about the smell. The animals reeked of morbid fear and rotting flesh, a stench so putrid and thick that Sa’nah felt as though it was clinging to her, clogging her nostrils and suffocating her so that mere breathing became an unbearable exercise.
“What are we to do?” She whispered hoarsely.
Her Mentor did not speak. His entire body was tense, lips drawn back showing his clenched teeth, with eyes focused like a laser beam on the lead creature.
“These are no ordinary Baewolves!” Ka’diysh thought to himself. “They’re different, stronger somehow.” His first command should have disabled the leader but it was still moving, stalking... Thinking!
He knew that Baewolves were once humans in the service of The Nameless One, who through sorcery had their forms changed. There were supposed to be six in all, but now three of them were after his protégé and Ka’diysh had to act decisively.
“Ka’diysh, can you defeat them?”
“No, I can’t. Not alone! But WE can, TOGETHER.”
“W...WE?” She sputtered, “But I…”
“Remember your training, Sa'nah.”
“In times of peril one might do, but none can resist the power of two!” She quoted from The Fifth Scroll of the VeoCode without thinking.
Ka’diysh had insisted she memorized the Scrolls. “It’s the ONLY weapon The Nameless cannot defeat,” He instructed her.
“Know them or know death!”
Now, all she ever learnt would be put to test.
The Black-Hounds closed in and Sa’nah felt their thoughts.
Because they were once human they still had the ability to think and through the black arts of The Nameless One had mastered psychic manipulation.
This was a battle of the minds!
In unison the beasts began to roar with a deafening din while intensifying their psychic attack. Sa’nah resisted with every ounce of resolve but the beasts prevailed in their mental onslaught.
The psychic attack felt like millions of tiny ants crawling around the inside of her brain. She desperately cried! “Ka’diysh, help me! I can’t…”
“Fight them, Princess, you can do this!”
Now it felt like the ants were feeding, chewing on her gray matter. “I don’t… they’re too…”
“Be strong, Sa'nah, remember your training.” He commanded!
“I am with you always and My Spirit will teach you ALL things, follow My Spirit.” The words of Jzhan Crys'tell from The Fourth Scroll of the NeoCode flooded her mind as Sa’nah felt a surge of power within.
Ka’diysh was praying aloud in the Ancient Tongues as she heard The Spirit saying to her, “Sa’nah, thoughts CANNOT defeat thoughts, only your WORDS can prevail.” And she understood what she must do.
Sa’nah cast aside the cloak and stepped forward. She felt her spirit take wings as a holy boldness rose within her, “By the power of the Light of Ki’ Shara! In the name of Jzhan Crys’tell, I COMMAND YOU FOUL BEASTS… CEASE AND DESIST!!!
The animals faltered, backed away and bowed.
“IT IS WRITTEN,” she continued, “when two shall agree it must be done, to bind the power of The Nameless One! NOW BEGONE!!!”
The beasts scattered in terror as Sa’nah and Ka’diysh both breathed a sigh of relief.
This battle was over but the war had just begun.
Pronunciation Guide:
Continued in Part 2
