SYNOPSIS OF A VISION
The land was full of fog, ice and heat, mist and swamps, grass and deserts. Bat and Devon lived here for seventeen years, alone, trying to survive. Galbraith, the Necromancer who ruled this world, had killed their parents when Bat was seven and when Devon was four. Since then they had lived on their own, traversing the mountains, running from Galbraith’s trolls, managing to eke out a life...but they wanted Galbraith dead and had vowed to do it someday, to avenge their parents’ deaths. They wanted it, yes, but lacked the ambition, until they met her...
Near one of the pools they often drank from is where they met her. Bat and Devon approached through the foliage when they heard noise ahead. Peering through the brush they saw the warrior, and a true warrior she was. Devon instantly fell in love with her beauty but Bat was sure she was an enemy. She had stripped, draping all her clothing on a boulder near the pool, and was standing ankle deep in the water, thinking of bathing. Slowly she tested the water with her toes, feeling its temperature. She pulled her long auburn hair from her face as she circled the water with her right foot. Devon needed to get a better look so he leaned closer. His foot snapped a twig and broke the silence.
She stopped, her large brown eyes at first moving towards the sound, then her head snapping in their direction, her hair flying and concealing her face.
Bat looked crossly at Devon. They had been noticed. She moved quickly, turning and skirting quickly out of the water and to the boulder where she quickly put her tan animal hides back on her body. Once dressed, she snapped her sword into position over her head and advanced on them.
Bat and Devon, suddenly realizing this woman was more than the average peasant, tried to flee, but she cut them off. From out of nowhere she leapt in front of them, scaring the brothers. Her sword was raised, ready to strike, but she was not one to kill for no reason. She too was a loner and trusted no one, but also knew the advantage of comrades. Bat and Devon were shocked, speechless, but finally Devon couldn’t help himself.
"Sor...sorry to disturb you...we...uh..."
Then she was gone, to the right.
"Why did she leave?" Devon asked but Bat was glad she did. He wanted nothing to do with her. But then they realized why she had gone. One of Galbraith’s trolls, a mutated creature ten feet tall, leapt through the foliage, ignoring the brothers but chasing her. The brothers followed and saw the troll pounce on the warrior, slapping her sword from her hand and slamming her to the ground. Before the creature did her in, however, the brothers attacked from the rear, slicing into the troll’s back and puncturing his organs. It died quickly. Thinking the woman would now understand they were not enemies, Bat walked to her and extended his hand.
But she would have none of that. She disappeared into the brush, as if angry her life had been spared.
Bat and Devon trekked to the mountains for this is where they lived. After two days, Bat realized they were being followed. He caught a glimpse of her through the trees and after she realized she had been seen, she did not hide any longer. She stepped out into the open forest before them, and the brothers were in awe. She was strong, beautiful, and intimidating. But she would not speak.
"Bat," said Bat, slapping his chest, "And Devon," he said, slapping Devon’s chest. She only stared, no expression, and would not speak a word. But she did continue to follow them for weeks, never getting closer than that or ever saying anything.
"Wonder what her name is?" Devon wondered as the brothers walked to one of the caves they often slept in. At that instant, one of Galbraith’s trolls leapt from the high rocks and pounced on them. It’s claws dug into their flesh and had nearly killed them, but then she appeared again. With one swift slice of her sword, she decapitated the troll from behind. The brothers, in shock, stood and skittered away. When they realized they had nothing to fear, they looked at the warrior.
"Bastard," she said, looking into the eyes on the dead troll’s head, then she kicked the face and sent the head flying like a soccer ball.
"You can talk!" Devon exclaimed. She looked up, then again, she disappeared into the forest and kept her distance.
Over the next several weeks they learned from her that her parents had also been killed by Galbraith long ago. She never spoke, but through gestures and expressions, they understood what was going through her head. Finally, together, they agreed to fight Galbraith.
The journey to his castle was long and hard. When they had come to within a mile, it was night and they were exhausted. They decided to sleep then attack in the morning. At daylight, the warrior looked for water, and found a small creek running through the woods two hundred feet to the west. The brothers woke, realized she was gone, then searched for her. When they found her, she turned to look at them, but that was a mistake. To their horror, the brothers watched as a troll sprung from the ground and swiped its paws at the warrior’s neck. She looked but could not save herself. She was instantly decapitated, her head soaring through the air and then down a rocky slope and into the ocean beyond. Bat and Devon, rabid and berserk, attacked the troll and sliced it to pieces. They looked for her head but never found it. Devon was devastated. He loved the beautiful woman who carefully followed them around. He wanted to die, but instead, his desire to kill Galbraith grew to immense proportions.
They buried her body two miles to the north of Galbraith’s castle. Devon cried as the two of them stood in front of the pile of rocks that covered her body in the ground. Even Bat was enraged and his want for Galbraith’s head on a plate was as strong as Devon’s. They stood for hours in front of the rocks, missing their silent friend.
"She was cool," Bat finally said.
"I liked her," Devon said, stating the obvious. A song began to fill the air, one called Heaven and Hell. The brothers stood and came to understand what they must do.
"Now I’m pissed," said Bat.
"Me too," said Devon.
They wasted no more time and rode through the forest towards Galbraith’s castle as Heaven and Hell cascaded throughout the forest.
"They say that life’s a carousel
Your enemies can bode thee well
The world is full of kings and queens
Who blind your eyes and steal your dreams
It’s Heaven and Hell."
Bat and Devon confronted Galbraith at night and nearly defeated him, but Devon was killed in the fight and Bat was left to himself. Sadly, he retreated into the forest with his dead brother. He took the body back to the grave of the silent warrior and buried Devon next to the woman he loved.
Saddened, frustrated, Bat disappeared into the black forest, wondering where his life would take him.
THE END
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