Page 63 of Where Darkness Dwells

This knowledge does nothing to ease my troubles. If nothing has happened to him, where is he? Have my fitful words caused him to shut me out forever?

He wouldn’t abandon me like this, would he?

Swallowing down my fears before they consume me, I make my eyes focus on the book. The cover is made from a rich, burgundy leather. A single Atsunic phrase is scrawled across the front.Avis ténesomni luvem. After darkness, light.

The book feels heavier than it should in my hands, and I press my fingers into the soft cowskin.

It is an ancient collection of verses I don’t understand. They speak of beauties and sights that thrill my soul but conjure confusing images in my mind—things I have only seen in my dreams. Within these fragile pages unfamiliar lights blaze, and there are references to a time when darkness did not have dominion at all.

I am not sure how to even fathom such a thing.

The sound of the waves tucks me into the rocky alcove around my mother’s grave. My breaths are freed to move through me, slowly and evenly. No one can see or hear me here. The lantern glows at my feet, and I curl myself around the precious book.

My hands go still when familiar words stare at me from the page. My heartbeat flutters in my chest.

“Shaluth Cantu,” I whisper. Salvation Song. My eyes travel over the lines as the inborn tune plucks at my heart.

My eyes have seen a glim’ring beam

Piercing through doomed bracken’s core,

And although it has made my heart to hope,

I fear I shall see it no more.

Thus grows the ever dark’ning gloom

From the glen to the ne’er ending moor.

And although Light has filled me

with wealth unknown,

I fear it has left thee poor.

I pause.

How could light ever make someone poor? Perhaps for those who have fought for darkness, light is a terrifying thing.

The next section sweeps through my mind.

Long past, on that ill-fated night,

When the hearts of men grew weak,

There came by the woods a Shrouded beast,

Of which we now do not speak.

And on that day no spear was raised;

The strong did not shelter the meek.

Then all the brilliant goodness fled,

And of that light we now do not speak.

Could it really be true that these beasts are not a natural part of the Vale at all?

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