n

n

nGood luck, young one!

" said Isidorus, as he waved his hand in the air. Thousands of small orbs of white light exploded in front of her. He plucked an orb from there. He opened her palm and placed the orb over it and closed her hands.

"This orb is going to stay in your hand. When you feel the need to come out on an urgent basis, squeeze it tight, okay?

"

n

"Okay,

" she whispered.

n

"Now go, kill the sorceress and fulfill the purpose of your existence!

" he said with vengeance and waved his hand in her direction. The orbs covered her and she was enveloped in white light.

nShe heard herself grunting. Air from her lungs whooshed out from her mouth. She felt as if her body was about to explode into thousands of pieces as orbs started circulating and touching her skin. She heard Daryn's shriek.

n

"Bianca!

"

nHe must have lunged at her to protect her, but she couldn't feel his touch. Perhaps he was slammed back.

n

"You have to let her go,

" came a voice from somewhere.

nHer father must have sat down on his knees near her cot.

"Oh God, my baby,

" he wailed. She heard him as her back arched.

"By Skadi!

" he tried to place his hands on her only to be prevented by the orbs. She wanted to say, 'I am fine Daddy…' but words didn't leave her mouth. Only air rushed out.

n

"You should stay away from her!

" Isidorus grunted.

"Her soul is getting detached and it needs space.

"

nBianca felt as if someone had thrown a bucket of ice water over her. The skin of her palms wrinkled as if they had been in cold water for hours. She could feel her body freezing. White luminescence came out of her mouth and it spilled all over her body until it consumed her completely. The light throbbed over her body, softly, gently. And suddenly, after taking the shape of her body, it detached. Bianca's body lay there on the cot, frozen in time as the orbs continued to swirl around it. Her soul—a silhouette of white light with fine defining lines. It floated above her. She could see her body, pale like that of a ghost and then she lifted her hands, which were nothing but just a delineation of her body. She gasped. Breaking free from her body, she floated and stood next to her cot. She saw expressions on Daryn's face. He was aghast and Ileus had held him back. They were all looking at her body since now none of them could see her or hear her.

n

"Bia, stay where you are!

" she heard her father's voice from behind as she glided out of the hut. It was so peaceful—this state.

nSomeone blocked her path before she could levitate higher and feel free.

"You have to wait Bianca!

" Adrianna snarled. The way she was looking it was as if she was staring in her eyes.

n

"Can you see me?

" asked Bianca.

n

"Stay where you are and fulfill the purpose!

" Adrianna grunted.

nShe snapped back. How could she let herself go? She bowed to the queen of wizards, feeling her power as they reached her, felt her.

nFrom the corner of her eyes, she saw outline of an enormous black stud emerging from behind the Aspen tree. He trotted towards her, his mane rippling with every step he took. It came and stood right beside her. Feeling every bit shocked at the way the horse was acting familiar, she found herself reaching out for him. Neighing, the horse leaned his head into her hand. She could feel the iciness on his touch.

"Who are you?

" she whispered. The whole experience was so surreal. Ghostly tendrils swirled around him as the horse swished his tail while prancing around her as if he knew who she was from a long time.

nFive minutes later three more horses came running out from the same place. She looked at all of them with bewilderment. They strutted around her, each of them trying to nestle their heads in her palm. She chuckled when the black stud tried to remove them from her.

nTwenty minutes later, Daryn, Caleb and Lazarus joined her.

n

"Are you okay Bianca?

" asked Daryn in a panicky voice as soon as he came to her. His voice was so disembodied it was as if coming from a tunnel.

n

"I am father,

" she replied and looked at their souls.

n

"Izar!

" Daryn exclaimed.

nThe black stud who had first come out neighed again and walked to his owner.

n

"You know him Daddy?

" To say that she was surprised was an understatement.

n

"I do,

" said Daryn fondly.

"He has come for you, baby.

" Izar had died long back, right after he had rescued them from Ulfric. He had sensed the girl when she had conceived.

n

"We need to go to the outskirts of the wizard kingdom now,

" said Caleb, breaking their reverie.

nLazarus had already mounted his horse waiting impatiently.

nThe horses snorted and pawed the ground as their masters mounted them.

nIsidorus walked out of the hut. He looked at them and instantly Bianca knew that he could see all of them.

"These horses are going to transport you to the outskirts of the wizard kingdom. You will have to summon the souls over there. Remember to call the Cadvals too.

"

nBianca nodded. She turned her horse to leave when she heard Isidorus from behind,

"Remember, not to turn away from what you must do.

" His voice was chilly.

nDawn broke bringing up the sun like a crown in the dark sky.

nThey rode a short distance and then all of a sudden the horses sped up as if they were talking to the wind. It took the entire day to reach the periphery of the wizard kingdom. It was almost nighttime and the sky had again become dark.

nBianca stopped and examined the area. Izar rode up to a small knoll and stood above it. Almost as if knowing what to do, her hand shot up in the air. An enormous pulse of light emanated from her hand and rippled down the knoll in waves, which throbbed with every pulse that emanated from her hand. The whole knoll was washed in white ethereal light.

n

"Naredujem vam da ustanere dodere k meni!

" her voice echoed. She realized that she wasn't speaking the normal language, instead she spoke some ancient language, which she understood very well.

"Treba mi da mi se pridruzis biktu.

" She could feel the burn of speaking the language in her throat.

nCaleb, Daryn and Lazarus stood right behind her and watched the pulse of white light that continued to throb.

n

"What is she saying?

" Lazarus asked as he watched her with awe.

n

"I command you to rise and come to me. I need you to join me for the battle,

" said Daryn. He was amazed by his daughter.

nAnd what happened next was breathtaking. From all the sides of the knoll, the souls obeyed her command. They rose.

nAnxious, Bianca clutched the pendent Dawn had given her just before she left. Was it a memory? She closed her eyes and memorized the contours, the lines of her husband's face. Her head turned up towards the sky. She heard a soft voice in her head,

"I am there Bia…

" His voice soothed her. When she opened her eyes, she saw them—the spirits of the Shadows.

n