CHAPTER XX
Koyan returned and immediately dismounted again. Moving quickly, though without any sign of haste, he tied up the three horses he had captured and began removing their saddles and the light armor covering their heads, chests, and hindquarters.
“Three more horses will come in handy. We have a long journey ahead of us, and we won’t have much time to rest,” he added, while Kron barked incessantly, trying to attract Hanna’s attention. She was still staring in astonishment at the eager warrior.
It did not take her long to come to her senses. She looked at her dog, scarcely able to believe what he had done only moments before. Delighting in his presence, in the constant sounds coming from his mouth, she felt something very different from the emotions that had overwhelmed her when she thought they would never see each other again. She jumped down from the horse, and the two began exchanging affectionate caresses that perhaps only they could understand, for everyone else watched them with some surprise.
“I thought we’d only have two passengers to carry,” Ómmenork remarked.
“Yes, well, I suppose Vendemur hadn’t counted on this fierce beast,” Koyan replied with a laugh, for Kron would not stop licking Hanna, as though trying to devour her in his own peculiar way.
“He’s not a beast, sir. His name is Kron, and he’s a dog, although that’s a long story.”
“Sir?! Please, don’t address me that way. You do your honor an injustice. Let us introduce ourselves,” he said, moving a little closer to them all. “My name is Koyan. The man beside you is Ómmenork, and this is Nakian, my son. The three of us serve Kettke faithfully, with our lives if necessary, and we are here to protect you. We shall reach Yrandia very soon, have no doubt of that.”
Then he turned toward Kron.
“Without question, you are a warrior. A strange warrior…”
Hanna was confused. It seemed that she was the one attracting all their attention, for they showed remarkably little interest in Gunuruk.
“I… my name is Hanna, and my story is a long one too, although I’ve only accompanied Gunuruk on this long journey.”
“Vendemur was right. It seems she knows nothing,” Ómmenork whispered discreetly to Nakian, and Gunuruk could not resist giving him a sharp nudge to make him keep his mouth shut.
“Hanna! An unusual name, but a beautiful one. Unique. It suits you,” Koyan said with such deference that he almost knelt before her. “I beg you to ride with me again. As I said, the road awaits us. Ómmenork will carry your… dog?”
“Yes, dog. Although that won’t be necessary. I’m sure he’d rather run alongside us than ride on this uncomfortable means of transportation,” she answered, giving Kron one last affectionate stroke before climbing back onto the horse and settling herself carefully in the saddle. She suspected that by the time they reached their destination, her backside would be painfully sore.
And so they set off. With their horses galloping swiftly, their hoofbeats echoing all around them, it was not long before they reached the Dark Forest, at its outer edge, where a few creatures still dared to travel. When they finally ventured into the forest’s depths, where the path they had been following disappeared and the moonlight vanished among the dense crowns of countless trees, their frantic pace began to slow. Little by little, they continued onward.
The place certainly lived up to its name. It was dark, terribly dark, although the riders seemed to know where they were going. Gunuruk also helped them with his exceptionally sharp eyesight. Hanna felt calm. There was no doubt that if she and Gunuruk had been forced to travel through that place alone, they would have been incapable of taking a single step without looking fearfully at their sinister surroundings. But now things were different. Very different.
Their first stop was a long time coming. Dawn accompanied it, in a small clearing where the first signs of daylight were beginning to appear. They rested for only a few minutes. Gunuruk and Hanna took advantage of the pause to walk a little, complaining about the aches that had already begun to torment them, while the tireless Kron could be heard running from one place to another.
Once Koyan, Nakian, and Ómmenork had transferred their saddles to the other horses, they hurried to continue. They neither ate nor drank. They seemed concerned only with resuming their journey.
“Come on! We must go!” Koyan shouted.
Hanna and Gunuruk headed toward them without hesitation, while the Snork removed his cloak, which was beginning to feel unnecessary. Hanna stared curiously at the dagger, now gleaming as it swung constantly from her friend’s belt.
“When are you going to give it to her?” she asked.
Gunuruk was surprised by the question, for he genuinely did not understand it. Silently, watching his friend’s inquisitive eyes, he continued walking.
“Gunuk’s dagger?”
“Yes, Gunuruk. I know. I heard you talking to Narsak in Bakalia, before we left. You told him you were carrying something very valuable. There’s no need to hide it. I’ve known for a long time,” Hanna stated firmly, eager to discover the mystery surrounding that small object.
A shiver ran through the Snork, making his hair stand on end. He climbed onto the horse beside Nakian and, seeing that his friend was still waiting for an answer, merely scratched his head, thoughtful and uncertain.
“Answer me!” she exclaimed, a little angrily, convinced he could no longer conceal what she already knew.
“No, Hanna! What I carry, the dagger it is not. Valuable it certainly is, very much. Soon you will understand,” Gunuruk answered nervously as the horses started moving. He clung tightly to his companion and hid his head.
Hanna was more astonished than ever, troubled by her friend’s enigmatic answer. She even demanded an explanation, but Koyan soon rode ahead to take the lead, leaving the Snork behind with Nakian, following Ómmenork.
Hanna could make no sense of Gunuruk’s reply. Perhaps she had misunderstood him, but she was certain of what she had heard. If it was not the dagger, what could it be? After all, it was plain enough that the Snork was practically naked and could hardly be carrying anything else.
Could it be Gunuruk himself?
She was not entirely convinced by that possibility. There was no doubt that Gunuruk was brave and noble, with a heart that would be difficult to surpass, but after what she had witnessed only a few hours earlier, she doubted his abilities as a warrior. Besides, she had felt the power of that mysterious object on more than one occasion. It undoubtedly possessed some strange force.
And so the day continued beneath the weight of that bitter uncertainty. The road remained as dark as though night had never ended, and only when an occasional clearing allowed the pleasant sunlight through did the faint colors of the abundant vegetation surrounding them become visible, while the countless sounds rising from deep within the forest seemed to grow more intense.
After many hours of traveling, tired and hungry, they slowed their pace before sunset. Moving carefully, as though searching for some particular place in the impenetrable forest, they circled around a couple of times and ended up exactly where they had started. Finally, everyone stopped.
Hanna felt a growing sense of helplessness, but no one had spoken a single word throughout the journey. Gunuruk sat motionless, clinging tightly to Nakian. Hidden behind the young man’s torso, he seemed unwilling even to poke out his little head. Not even Kron’s barking could cheer Hanna, for she was anxiously awaiting the chance to speak with her friend.
“Damn it!” Koyan exclaimed. “It should be here. I’m certain of it.”
“Let’s go around once more. It can’t be far,” Ómmenork suggested.
Suddenly, a noise sounded all around them.
It seemed to come first from ahead and then from behind, so close that they might almost have said it brushed against their heads, yet nothing could be seen. The three warriors hastily drew their swords with an unmistakable metallic ring. They glanced nervously in every direction, abruptly turning their horses from side to side as the animals neighed without pause.
“What’s happening? What is that?” Hanna asked anxiously.
“I don’t know, but I doubt we’ll have to wait long to find out,” Nakian replied.
While Gunuruk strained to locate the source of the mysterious disturbance, a light appeared on the bark of a great tree directly ahead of them, so white and brilliant that it nearly blinded them all.
Then it darted from side to side with a fluttering motion as rapid as the wings of a tiny hummingbird. Everyone turned their heads, struggling to follow the light’s frantic movements until at last it stopped before them.
Many more lights appeared all around.
“Who are you?” they asked in unison, their voices melodic, almost like whispers carried by the wind through the branches.
“I am Koyan. We must reach Argon. They are expecting us,” he answered quietly.
“Yes, we have been waiting for you. We knew you would arrive soon. We saw you in the marshes of Fadias. Follow us. Yrandia is close now,” the lights replied.
Yet they seemed to be speaking to Hanna, for they had gathered around her and continued moving with evident curiosity.
“Are you Níbulas?” she asked, remembering what Bauros had told her about those enigmatic beings.
“Yes, that is what we call ourselves,” answered one hovering directly in front of her.
Its light gradually faded, revealing a tiny body suspended in the air by two beautiful wings.
“Follow us!” it added, this time taking up a position in front of Koyan.
Now they could see the path clearly, almost as though the sun itself were shining beneath the treetops, although the light was different. The radiant glimmers flowing from the Níbulas seemed to drift delicately through the air, gradually fading like a shimmering halo surrounding the entire group.
Hanna was utterly amazed by what she saw. Not even in her dreams could she have imagined beings like those surrounding her. They seemed to fill everything with peace and serenity. Even the trees and plants appeared grateful for their presence, straightening beneath their light and turning their leaves toward them.
It was undoubtedly magical, and even Hanna began to relax.
As Koyan had said, what they were looking for was not far away. Barely a couple of minutes later, a great lake appeared beyond two enormous bushes. It seemed incredible that such a vast body of water could have been so difficult to find, but that was the nature of the Dark Forest: mysterious.
Only those who knew it could dare to venture into its depths. Few beings enjoyed that privilege. The Níbulas and the Delfos moved through it without difficulty; it was their home, as it was the home of the Mibuks, for Argon was their kingdom. A few dwarves and many giants also inhabited its surroundings, but few others were chosen to enjoy its apparent tranquility.
Night had already fallen, and the Níbulas continued illuminating their way. They advanced at a gentle pace around the lake, following its southeastern shore. After crossing a beautiful bridge, they reached a great meadow where small wooden houses were beginning to appear.
Some of their inhabitants had emerged, perhaps alerted by the sudden brightness accompanying the travelers.
Hanna stared at them.
They all seemed elderly. They were slender, and their long hair merged with their beards, but what stood out most was the extraordinary curiosity in their eyes. As the group passed, one of them began drawing them with a beautiful quill, moving it across a thick sheet of parchment with astonishing speed.
“They are Mibuks! Those who preserve the past through their words, their drawings, and their carvings,” said one of the Níbulas hovering above Hanna.
Then it flew toward one of the Mibuks so she could see him more clearly.
Suddenly, beside a house larger than the others, Gunuruk recognized the unmistakable silhouette of a Snork. Startled, he tried to discover who it was, and it did not take him long.
“Ynack!” he exclaimed, throwing himself down from the horse, excited and delighted, scarcely daring to believe he was not dreaming.
But he was not mistaken.
It was indeed Ynack, waiting motionless for the imminent arrival of her fellow Snork.
Hanna heard her friend’s cry and saw him rush past her. She too dismounted, much to Koyan’s surprise, and after discovering that the terrible pain in her legs was even worse than she had imagined, she made her way as best she could toward the two Snorks, who were already exchanging their own peculiar greeting.
“What you doing here?!” Gunuruk asked, pleasantly astonished.
Ynack laughed and looked at him, then waited for Hanna to join them, her face seeming to brighten with happiness.
“It seems your goal you have achieved! Easy it cannot have been. Many dangers behind you surely left,” she said as Hanna embraced her.
“How did you get here? Did you escape from Antraka? How is everyone there? What’s happened to them?” Hanna asked nervously, struggling to hold back her tears.
“Calm yourself,” the Snork said with her unmistakable serenity, gently stroking her young friend’s smooth cheek. “Little I know of Antraka. Early I left, on the first ship departing for Doria. What would they want with a useless old Snork?” she added with a smile. “What happens there now, difficult to know it is.”
“But how you arrive here?” Gunuruk asked, intrigued.
“Once Doria I reached, escaping was easy. They believe Snorks not very clever beings are, but many soon leave that island. All toward Vérveka go, but I… another destination I sought. A long journey I traveled! Many years since so far I had gone,” she answered as Kron approached them.
His long tongue hung from his mouth, and he looked utterly exhausted, although little by little he recovered and finally lay down beside Hanna.
“Look, Ynack! This is Kron. I told you about him. He was in Belonia. They had him locked up to force him to fight, but now he’s free. We’re together again,” she said happily, stroking his great head.
“Curious indeed. Not even Vendemur spoke of him…” Ynack said thoughtfully as she studied the animal.
Hearing that, Hanna’s curiosity returned in full force. She looked at Gunuruk and seized his hand, as though determined to prevent him from running away or doing anything of the sort.
“All right, now you’re going to explain what we were supposed to bring here. You will tell me! You owe me that! I won’t put up with one more secret!” she exclaimed, shaking him.
But the Snork said nothing. He merely looked at Ynack, as though waiting for some sign of approval before finally confessing the truth.
“Inside the house, come. There we can be at peace. What so long you have waited to hear, we shall tell you,” Ynack answered, touching Hanna’s hand, which was still reluctant to release Gunuruk.
When Hanna finally let him go, he breathed a sigh of relief and then broke into a broad smile without taking his eyes off her, as though the moment had arrived to lay down the heavy burden he had carried for so long.
While Koyan, Nakian, and Ómmenork tended to the horses, the three entered the cottage. Kron had fallen asleep at the entrance.
Inside, they sat beside a splendid fireplace that warmed the room. They all seemed to be watching one another, waiting for someone to speak first.
“I’m ready!” Hanna exclaimed impatiently.
“Well… easy it is not, little one. Complicated, perhaps difficult to understand. But now safe you are, your truth must be shown to you.”
“My truth?!” Hanna exclaimed.
She was nervous, uneasy about what she was about to hear, perhaps even afraid, for something deep inside told her that none of the answers would be simple. They would undoubtedly reveal secrets that, after so long, she might receive with greater fear than she had ever known.
“Yes, your truth, your past and your future. Your arrival no coincidence was. Everything written is. With hope we welcomed you, the hope that only one person could carry, the one who would come after leaving this world, after fleeing, the one who would return to fight a battle…”
“I don’t understand! I came here by accident. This isn’t my world. This isn’t my home!” she exclaimed, overwhelmed, struggling to hold back the tears beginning to gather in her clear eyes. “I don’t know how to fight. I’m just a girl. What do you want from me? I can’t help you.”
“Answers sometimes hard are, too hard for one not ready. All this time we protected you. Only your ignorance could protect you. Your journey, the dangers you have faced… now that safe you are, ready you must be. You alone are the one this journey is about!” Ynack exclaimed.
Hanna seemed on the verge of collapsing, while Gunuruk watched her with sorrow. Perhaps he had not expected this reaction. Perhaps he had imagined his friend would respond differently.
“I’m not from this world! I want to go home!” Hanna repeated, her swollen eyes filled with tears.
“No, Hanna, do not cry. Happy you should be. The daughter of Tuarkkett and Badania you are, the one who carries Elisea’s blood, the one whom Kudark must now fear,” Gunuruk exclaimed.
Alarmed by the raised voices, Kron entered slowly and settled once more beside his mistress.
“You don’t understand. I can’t do anything. You’re making a mistake. I’m not the person you’re looking for. I don’t know how to fight. I’ve never fought before. I’m not that person!”
“Strong you are, stronger than anyone I know. I saw you face the Bábagos. Your gaze I can never forget. Brave you were, unique, the gaze only of a queen. Do you no longer remember?”
“Yes, I remember. How could I ever forget? But it was the dagger. Gunuk’s dagger! I felt its power. Without it, I’m nothing but a coward,” she added, taking the dagger from Gunuruk’s belt.
“No, Hanna, yourself you underestimate. This only an object is,” the Snork said, taking it back. “Only that. Nothing it did. Only you, only what lies within you. That is its strength—your own…”
“It’s a mistake. I know it is. I shouldn’t be here. I should never have come. Everything was an accident. I want to go home!” she exclaimed, disoriented, unable to accept what she was hearing.
“Little one, difficult it is, very difficult. I understand. Only a baby you were. Nothing you remember. But many there are who would give their lives for you, who even today fight without fear, who tomorrow will stand beside you without fear. Only a few know this secret, but soon many will learn that the daughter of Tuarkkett, the daughter of Badania, is alive. And your duty it is to reclaim Kettke.
“Now many fight only for Kettke, only for what it represents. But with you, stronger their hope will be. To rule you were born, to lead. That is your destiny.”
“I can’t be their daughter,” Hanna answered. “I was born in my world. I grew up there. Only there!” she exclaimed again, thinking that what she was experiencing could only be a dream.
“No, Hanna. In Kettke you were born. Your parents wanted you to grow up free there, but evil prevented what everyone dreamed of. Gunuk saved you. Only he could take you away. His final journey that was. From this world he fled to protect you, to preserve your life. Never did he return. His life he gave for yours.
“What you wear around your neck once belonged to Tuarkkett. Never take it off. He himself gave it to you, his daughter. His strength you carry. Your beauty belongs to Badania,” Ynack said, gently touching Hanna’s hair and uncovering her face.
Hanna remained silent for a moment, crying, looking at her chain and pendant, remembering Gunuk.
Many memories resurfaced within her. Perhaps that was what she had felt when she saw him: the stirring of things she had kept in the deepest part of her heart.
That was why her blanket bore her name, the name of Kettke, the Kingdom of Kingdoms. That was what it really said.
That was why she had felt compelled to undertake the journey that would bring her back to the world where she had been born.
Everything was complicated, difficult, but it all seemed to fit together.
At that moment, countless questions filled her mind, questions that only she could now answer. How was she supposed to accept her destiny? How could she face her reality? Was she truly the person they said she was?
Yet all she felt was fear, fear running through every inch of her body. Fear of what awaited her. Fear, perhaps, that she did not belong there, that she would never return to the place she still considered home, that all she would accomplish was her own death.
But above all, she feared disappointing everyone who believed in her, everyone who would look at her as someone she was convinced she was not, everyone who would look at her as the two Snorks were looking at her now.
Something compelled her to reject that land, its people, its tragedy. Perhaps it was merely a way of protecting herself, for deep down she found it impossible to accept what seemed inevitable.
“This isn’t my world! It’s all a mistake…” she said, utterly pale and sweating.
Then everything began to spin.
She could no longer seem to hear or see clearly.
She stood, trying to flee, and caught a glimpse of Koyan and Nakian standing in the doorway.
Then she collapsed.