The Dark Age Chronicles: The Fall of Night.
The Winds

The next day passedrelatively quietly. Ihloden was able to get up a little. Nurilah’s medicine hadindeed worked its magic. He was feeling a lot better and his wounds hurt less.His mother and Shila came to visit and when they found he was awake gave shortscreams and almost jumped on him. They smothered him with kisses until hejokingly pushed away.

“How are you?” his motherasked tearfully.

“I’m fine,” he said, “Really I am. Nurilah’smedicine does it work well.”

“What were you doing in thewoods?” Shila asked. Nurilah came in just then.

“You said he would not be upfor a few days,” his mother cried.

“He is a strong boy,” Nurilah laughed, “Herecovered quicker than I thought. As I recall Ihloren was not much different.”

His mother shook her head,“No he was always one to come back. Like father like son I gather.” She huggedhim.

Ihloden winced. “Easymother,” he croaked, “The medicine is not that good. I’m still a bit tender.”

Shila glared back at him, “You didn’t answermy question. Ihloden, brother dear.”

Ihloden sighed, “I sawsomething in the forest that night. I went to see what it was. Next thing Iknow I’m running and I fell and that’s it. I blacked out or something.”

Shila frowned, “Did you seewhat it was?”

Ihloden shook his head andsaid innocently, “A bird or something.”

“You were drunk weren’t you?” she asked. Helooked away ashamed and nodded.

“I am just glad that you arefine,” Marian said looking a little hard at Shila, “We have to get back to workIhloden. We’ll see you later.” He nodded, got kissed again and waved to them asthey left. Then he flopped down on the bed breathing hard.

“I was wondering how you were keep up thatlong,” Nurilah laughed. “Had to show a brave face,” Ihloden groaned, “Oh…mychest hurts. Damn thing.”

“What did happen Ihloden?”Nurilah asked. He glanced at her.

“I met the Griffin. We were both running fromsome kind of woman that screamed blue flames at us. We dived into a pond. Theblue flames burned out the water from it before we even reached it! Then thegriffin did something to me and left. Then you guys found me in the morning,”he paused for a breath. “So the griffin’s real. If it is still alive. It lookedpretty bad when it left me.”

Nurilah stood very stillthen took a deep breath in, “I think you are very lucky to be alive,” she saidsoftly, “As for the Griffin, Cirvan will not let it die before Lyficen iskilled. The legend has to be fulfilled.” I

hloden nodded, “We’ll see.”

She then smiled and shookher head, “Let’s get you some food.”

“Please!” Ihloden begged.

Nurilah spent the rest ofthe day hunting for two and preparing for another long night. “Most of thefever passed last night,” she said, “So it may just be mild tonight.” She paused,“I am going to need some rest here Ihloden. If you need me just call but forthe most part you will be in here alone. That okay with you?” Ihloden saw thedark bags under Nurilah’s eyes and the way her usually strong shoulders slopeddown from tiredness.

“That’s no problem,” he saidcheerfully, “You rest Nurilah. I’ll be fine. I’ll call if I feel really bad.”

She nodded tiredly and swungthe door behind her as she left, leaving it just slightly open. Ihlodensnuggled down onto the hard wood trying to be comfortable. He had already madeup his mind. No matter how he felt he was not going to call Nurilah. She hadsaid it herself; the medicine was working. He knew how hard it was to take careof someone and still carry on with your own life. And Nurilah’s regular way oflife was hard already. So he was going to let her rest.

He managed to doze away thengot up feeling like he was going to die. The fever was not mild. In fact itseemed almost as bad as the last night, maybe worst. He squeezed his eyes shut,his mouth open gasping futilely for air. Even if he wanted to go back on hisword and call Nurilah; he couldn’t. The heat and pain had swamped him. Therewas no air in his body and not matter how hard he gripped the bed he could notstop his body from arching in pain. Suddenly he felt a cool breeze pass overhim and a hand rested on his forehead. Almost immediately the fever and painwent. His body flopped onto the bed, limp and coated in sweat.

“Well done Shafushna,” avoice flowed in the room, “It has been abated.” Ihloden snapped his eyes openand the scream stuck in his throat. A ridiculously tall woman was sitting athis beside her hand resting on his head. She was white and pale but beautiful,like a full moon. Her head was just brushing the roof of the room.

“Better now Ihloden?” she asked. Her voice waslow and deep. He nodded. Then he spotted the other two figures behind her. Onehe had never seen before but the other, the brown skinned one, he had seen. Itwas the same man that had patted the fire horse when it saved him from theFangor. Then it struck him. They were the Winds. A low groan came out of hismouth. “He has realized who we are,” chuckled the brown one. He glided forward,his head also reaching the roof. Ihloden glanced down to see his feet, onlythey were not there. Instead a mist floated around making it look like the manwas riding on it.

“I am Evanshna, the NorthWest Wind,” he said touching Ihloden on the shoulder, “I send my midday windwith my steeds of fire.” His touch was warm. The other man was broader thanEvanshna but his strong face was kind none the less.

“I am Nahturshna, the NorthEast Wind,” he said touching Ihloden also, “I send my morning wind with my WindFalcons.”

“And I am Shafushna, theSouth East Wind. I send my night wind with my Frost Wolves.” They all looked athim expectantly.

“I am Ihloden,” he said suddenly catching on,“Son of Ihloren and Marian. I….I…have no idea why you are here.” They smiled.

“Cirvan sent us,” Evanshna said, “He has amessage for you.” Ihloden swallowed hard.

“Cirvan?” he asked.

Shafushna nodded, “He saysthat you must stay strong and be wary. The minions of Lyficen are now out forthe Griffin. You must replace it and keep it safe.”

“But why me?” Ihloden asked,“There has got to be someone better out there somewhere, right?” They all saidnothing. “Help me out here,” he pleaded, “I can’t go up against Lyficen alone.And as for the Griffin I have no idea if it is even alive!”

“It is alive,” Nahturshnasaid solidly, “I have seen it. It is almost healed by now.”

Ihloden sighed infrustration. “How am I to replace it and protect it? Protect it against all ofLyficen’s hordes? I can’t do that! I can’t!”

“The griffin will come toyou,” Shafushna went on as if he hardly said anything, “Together you will replacea way.” Ihloden sighed louder and looked away.

“Do not be disheartened,”Evanshna said, “Cirvan would never have given you the task if he didn’t thinkyou were the best to do it.”

Ihloden looked at the Wind, “What if he made amistake?”

“Cirvan never is mistaken,”they all echoed. Just then a whine came through the window. Shafushna smiledand lifted the curtain that hung over the window. A large wolf leapt in andstood next to her.

“My Frost Wolf leader,’ she said proudly, “Wemust go now and do our duties, Ihloden, son of Ihloren and Marian.” The Wolftouched him with its cold nose and gave a friendly growl. Then Shafushna fadedinto a pale mist along with the wolf and the mist floated out of the window.The others nodded to him and then faded away themselves. Ihloden lay there along time just staring at the curtain now flapping idly as the night breezepassed over his village. He swore that in the distance he could hear thehowling of Shafushna’s Frost Wolves.