In a world dominated by mortal strength and immortal faith, I the one known as The Ghost speak in hushed tones, tales of one forgotten warrior.
He was born far beyond the reach of civilization, in the frigid Mountain range of Palash as a ordinary boy, but unlike any other in his tribe
His body was warmer then the rest, his hands stronger, eyes like a curious newborn hawk ready to take flight, and when the sound of his first cry spilled like an ocean, the world had recognised a new ruler, a being unlike any other.
The River Saryas which formed the spine of the world below and provided the civilised men with life and liberty to eat and drink , to wage wars and to end then, originated there and the very first to quench their thirst with it were non other than his friends and family and he himself.
The range was vast, from the top of the mountain which was climbed by only a handful of the tribe claimed that one side of the world was white, and no life could ever exist there other than the spirits and godly beasts., while the other side of the mountain was an endless pit of darkness, if one looked into it the darkness would drive you to madness.
The tribe had a mere number of 203 which after The Warrior's birth had grown to a massive 204.
I say massive because that's how I should describe him even as a baby still sucking on his mother's nipple.
The tribe hunted when food was required., as they lived way above the foothill on the thunderous terrain,dangerous and only dangerous,so they hunted ONLY when required.
The few animals which could be hunted included the snow rabbits, the vultures, and the leopards and a few snow wolves.
Survival there was life in itself and ones who did not survive were not meant to.
Well the tribesmen are not important enough to be described, I should atleast bring myself into the picture. In the Tribe after the birth of The warrior, it was my turn. He was already 4 by then when I first opened my eyes and unlike him I was quite weak. I was colder, paler, and even looked premature as I was smaller than the rest.
After my birth there's not much to tell about the tribesmen other than the birth of a few of my comerades so we will move forward in time when the warrior and I will first come face to face.
I had turned 12 my mother who was the best archer of the tribe was teaching my how to pull an arrow for i was at the age when children learn to hunt for themselves.
"Mother, it's impossible!" I cried to her while attempting to pull the arrow in the bow. My hands were not made for such tasks, I am quite adept at sewing and even cooking but hunting , bows and arrows - just beyond my capability!
I pleaded while she glared at me.
"If you can not shoot even one arrow then forget food. 12 years means responsibility, you must learn how to shoot, Now Pierce the target!" She screamed at the end with anger and enthusiasm mixed like the leopard's liver mixed in wine.
The arrows i released couldn't even reach the targets. Let alone pierce then.
" What a boy you are! Even a newborn child can do better than you!" She pulled her hands in the air to perhaps slap some courage into my cowardly self but stopped and with a motherly affection put that hand on my head and ruffled my hair.
" I will not always be here, you have to learn before I pass away. You must survive my son"
her soft tone might have done something to my cowardly self but more than that did her next words which were not motherly nor affectionate just full of melancholy.
" Survive my son, if you don't wish to die like your Father."
She turned away and walked home after telling me to not return home before successfully shooting my first arrow, or else I
Was not a man.
I was following all the tips mother told me.
I was trying my best, all mt friends had learnt it , they were doing way better than myself, so I must be able to do it.
But after a couple of tries my hands hurt more than my pride and I sat down on thr snowy ground. I lay down and groaned
"It's impossible!"
"it is possible" I heard someone say. I got up
And saw a man the size of my father. My father wasn't the biggest but he sure was, and he was carrying a Bow which would put my height to shame.
I looked at little longer at him, his eyes were dark, so peculiar! Unlike mine which were Blue his were Black like the Darkness often talked about by the Shaman. His hands were not visible very strong but I could feel the wight in those arms just by looking at his tight grip on his bow.
And his voice unusually deep yet tender, and somehow sounds a bit authoritative.
" It's not possible I tell you, my hands re just not strong enough. Maybe I will learn by the next Winter." I advocated my weakness.
"I will show you how to do it, watch." He pulled out an arrow from his waist band and put it in the arrow.
"Grip the Bow firmly, keep the bow straight and pull the allow to you chest and beyond" he did as he spoke.
I could feel the weight behind the arrow, I know if that arrow was released if would definitely pierce the straw head put 10 yards away. But the eyes he had and the concentration I observed made my expectations grew so muchh that I even felt like it would pierce the sky and the mountains.
"Release the arrow" I said
And he did. The arrow made a howling sound as if a wolf was howling in the midnight and pierced the straw head carrying the head along with it 20 yards away from the straw body.
"Woah!" The exclamation escaped my lips, I was awestruck.
" Now you try" he spoke while putting his Bow away.
I picked up my bow and grabbed an arrow, I was about to put the arrow and pull the string but I heard a loud call to my name from a distance.
"Roheil ! Come home mother wants to talk to you!" It was my little brother calling me.
"It seems you have more important business" he spoke and started walking away.
"What's your Name ? " I asked curiously.
But he gave no reply and walked away.
The calling to my name got louder and I had to run home, but I could not forget the sight of that man, his bow and arrow and his eyes.
I knew we would meet again, was it intuition? I don't know but I knew we will definitely meet again.
Until then stay with me.