BOOK ONE
I'm stuck in the icy water, struggling to swim afloat, gasping for air that's never there. I see faces—some familiar, yet alien.
I feel myself slipping away, back into the depths of the icy water. No, I can't go back there. Not now. Not ever.
I try to move, to call out, but my body is heavy and unresponsive. Suddenly, a sharp pain jolts me back to reality and my eyes snap open. I'm drenched in cold sweat, my heart racing as the remnants of my nightmare echo in my mind.
Indistinct sounds of clanking metals, chatters and eerie hoots of an owl prop me back to this world so alien. My dull gaze scans the room which is nearly shrouded in darkness but for the aid of a dying candle.
My nose detects a damp, earthy smell mixed with herbs and burning incense. When my eyes spot a humanoid figure in a corner, I shriek and make to spring off the bed but the sharp pains in my head and chest stop me. I let out a cry and lay back.
"You are awake! O, thank the Spirits!" I hear the figure exclaim in such elated tone that is strangely soothing.
As she approaches, I notice the figure is a woman in white flowing skirt made from linen and a small white piece of linen draped loosely around her breasts. Her hair, which is long, down to her waist is completely white, although she is not old at all. Her beauty is captivating. Otherworldly.
I stare at the strange floral tattoos on her arms; at the topaz jewelry around her neck that looks quite too uncomfortable to be called a piece of jewelry.
When she is close enough that I perceive the strong smell of incense, she smiles warmly and reaches out to feel my forehead. I do not flinch back, strangely she carries a welcoming aura.
"O, how pretty!" She says calmly while staring at my eyes. I stare back at her warm, very light blue ones.
"A case of heterochromia! I tell you, I never even knew for when we found you, your eyes were already shut in the struggle". She says, chuckling very often.
Before I open my mouth to speak, the sound of boiling liquid spewing all over seems to steal her attention and she mutters underneath her breath as she hurries towards it.
From the way she is pouring the potion into Small bottles, one could easily guess that she is a healer of some sort. I heave a deep sigh and adjust on the bed, which is barely stuffed with straw and hay; very uncomfortable.
The tent looks weird, like something made out of leopard skin. Outside the tent seems like a totally different world; busy and bustling, with the sounds of people going about their activities.
"Drink this" comes her voice to startle me.
I stare at the glass of brown liquid in her hand and then back at her. She replies with a slight smile, then nods. "This will help relieve your headache." She adds.
I am reluctant at first, but one thing I'm certain of: I can trade anything to stop this discomforting headache. Plus, I reason, why would a healer revive her patient only to kill her afterwards?
Without further ado, I collect the glass and with one gulp, it is emptied. The cool liquid wets my dry throat like a balm, but leaves an unpleasant aftertaste.
In a husky voice from not having spoken in a while, I ask, 'Who are you?'