The Seer & The Warrior

Prologue

The heart of a Warrior, the mind of a Seer combined as a Blood Heritage for a broken and devastated people.

For generations, the Latvian people were weaker than their enemies, who took advantage of this weakness to pillage, enslave, castrate their men and laughingly harass these peaceful people. They were not warriors. Latvians valued peace. As one of the many peoples of the sea, they loved their home! They would treasure it if peace would ever come, but they are a broken people; they stood no chance. Their enemies were stronger than them… Until one day the Twins of an Ancient Blood Line stumbled into their village.

The people would not know what this Blood Heritage would do for them; Latvian’s were a kind, open and caring people and upon seeing the Twin brothers with blood trailing behind them, beaten and broken themselves; it terrified the people! Setting aside fear, the Latvians helped heal one of the Twins. The Twin brothers knew they were the last of their own people and seeing the broken homes, scarred faces, hundreds of orphans, their men crying… The two brothers could never deny the compassion in their hearts; their hearts broke for these poor people. They would not save them, they would empower them.

Four thousand years later, the Blood Heritage of the Twins is threatened… As it has never been threatened before. The Latvian people they so wished to empower had their history ripped from them and replaced with lies; they had forgotten the Blood Heritage. Their kingdom threatened on multiple fronts, the people losing faith in their past, assassinations, plots to destroy the history linked to the Ancient Twins’ promise.

Their enemies never contended with the power of the Blood Heritage from Kiah and Gilden.

Kiah & Gilden: The Promise

“Kiah!!!”

Kiah turned just in time at his brother’s warning, with his single sword coming up to block the attack. So swift and so powerful was the attack that it launched him backwards, where he slammed against a boulder that split in half. Kiah’s whole body snapped backwards, his spine snapped, and he fell to the ground like a sack of stones.

‘It is finished’ Kiah thought ‘We will die. I am sorry brother, but I cannot move’

..…. Pain…… Darkness…..

Gilden saw his brother launched into the boulder and when he didn’t move, panic overtook him! Furiously welding dual swords, he cut a bloody path to his brother. He was crying, bloody tears streaming down his face. His wounds were grievous, but Kiah had not moved…

‘No…’ Gilden thought, for all his strength… they had lost.

The battle abated; panting he ran to check Kiah. He found life still in him, so he picked his brother up and ran. Pushing himself to speeds like he never had before, they were the last! He could not lose his brother! Terrified to be in this brutal world alone… mother, father, sisters, brothers… Their whole family wiped out in a few weeks, their legendary power and strength wasn’t sufficient! They were the last… If Kiah lived.

Gilden cared not which direction he went. He needed to get away. Everything was in ash, from the corpses of his family to their beautiful home in the mountains. Ashes, all of it. Kiah still had not moved, and it had been hours; what could he do?? Gilden despaired:

‘Do not leave me brother, I cannot do this alone. I beg you…’

Latvian people were a passive people; war was not their way. Until one day two men arrived; terrified the people hid! These two men trailed blood behind them. They had swords and the one who walked, walked with power! They could see the power radiating off of him! Yet he carried one who did not wake.

Gently, Gilden set his brother down. He didn’t remember entering the ocean and into the sea; he just knew he had to get away, far away. They would track him and his brother to the ends of the earth, but in the sea, their enemies may not follow. Looking at the people hiding in the village, they did not look like warriors and Gilden had his hands out in a gesture of peace… Why were they hiding? These were the first people he had seen since entering the sea… He needed their help, Kiah still had not moved, it had been days… He moved forward, a woman screamed, the men scrambled backwards desperately clutching their wives and he could see they were utterly terrified of him! He spoke:

“I am Gilden, fear not. I need your help, please.” He turned to gesture at his brother “We are the last… I cannot lose him; please can you help me?”

One brave soul moved forward… It was an elderly woman, with scars on her face, weathered and old she was, but she tentatively moved forward. All the people watched her… Gilden did not move, he did not want to scare her.

“Why do you come here?” She waved her hand over the people “We cannot help”

Gilden looked around, really looked. It seemed the small village had been attacked, walls demolished, roofs with holes and just the faces of the people and the cowed look.

“Who has done this to you? You are not warriors,” Gilden stated, for it was true. The men cowered and an elderly woman had the bravery to come forward. ‘Who would attack a people like this?’ Shaking his head mentally. Only those who love to cause pain and suffering by exploiting weakness.

“We are not, we are peaceful but those who are greedy use us, beat us, steal our sons and daughters… You look to have been in battle” The elderly woman grew brave “Please leave, you would bring whatever harmed you to us” knowing she might die for her statement…

“They will not follow me here, I promise” Gilden looked and compassion overcame him, his brother Kiah often teased him for having such a tender heart when Gilden’s strength and speed was almost unmatched. Maybe, just maybe. “I have asked, can you help my brother? I will give you something in return, something you desperately need”

A few of the men forsook their shelters, fearfully watching Gilden as they raced to the elderly woman. They spoke rapidly.

“I do not have time for this! Can you help him?!” Gilden shouted at them, every one of them clutched their chests, cowered… ‘Gilden, patience brother’ Gilden whirled around ‘Kiah??’…. no response ‘KIAH!’ still nothing but that was his brother’s voice!

“You cannot give us what we need, please! We beg you, go!” The elderly woman began to cry. Many of the men too, huddled around wives, children…

“I can, you need strength which I have” breathing down impatience, though he had compassion patience he did not have, Gilden continued “Help me and I will help you. I cannot live while he dies” again Gilden gestured to his brother desperately, “We are the last, please…” He begged.

A second woman came forward “I will see him”. When Gilden nodded, she came forward. Knelt next to Kiah and placed her hands on his chest. Gilden didn’t move. He knew his presence alone invoked such fear in them. Impatiently, he waited. He wanted to collapse, carrying his brother, running, no food and his own wounds… for days… but he would not give up… He needed his brother!

“East of us is a city. It is fabled to have a healing potion. Otherwise, I cannot help him, his back has broke and nothing can fix that… I… don’t know how… he is alive…” she stammered, worry in her eyes that she had said the wrong thing.

“Is this fable more truth or more mythical?” Gilden asked exhaustion straining his voice.

One of the men stepped forward. “I have seen it… at least I think that is what it was… I… uh, can lead you there, but I am no fighter! I can lead you there…” breathing hard, the man came to a stop not far away from the huddling people.

“How far? Are they the ones who do this?” Gilden waved his hands across their village.

“Yes…” the man whispered.

Gilden strode forward. The man cringed but stood his ground. ‘Good, they had some spine,’ Gilden thought. He reached out and gripped his shoulder. “What is your name?”

“Tha-ne…” Thane gulped. The man in front of him was covered in wounds! But his strength!

“Do not fear me, Thane, but I must know you will lead me and not leave. Take me there, but stay hidden where I will know where to find you. These are not my lands” Gilden watched the man.

“I will… how… how will you help us?” Tentatively Thane asked.

“You will see… Come, Thane, I go to avenge your people and save my brother” He gripped Thane and drug him along as he walked. Gilden suddenly stopped and turned to the woman by his brother’s side “What is your name?”

“Lilly” Her eyes downcast, afraid to even look him in the eye! Anger was rising in Gilden; he meant every word. Vengeance would be his for these poor people!

“Please stay with him, please” Gilden watched as she finally looked up, the fear abating at his heartfelt plea, and she nodded, scooting closer to Kiah, laying a hand protectively on his chest. Gilden nodded. Time to go; he had a little strength and energy left. He would give it all to heal his brother!

Gilden’s guide led him for about twenty minutes before he quickly ducked behind a rock outcropping, shaking and nervous; peaking around the corner. Gilden, too tired to hide, just stood there, watching the city.

“That is the city?” Gilden turned to look at his guide.

“It is. Their defenses are mighty! I do not know how…” Before Thane could finish, Gilden waved his hand at him.

“It is no matter, if I die, I die. I will not live in this world without my brother,” Gilden was so tired, but he had to do this.

Thane explained where they kept this potion. Gilden nodded, “Remain here, stay out of sight. If I do not return, bury my brother” Without waiting for a response, Gilden took off.

They were so weak! Gilden had climbed the wall, overtopped the battlements and the moment he engaged them in battle it was obvious; his strength was immensely superior! It was like he was battling children. He quickly found what he needed, noticing they had a lot of technological equipment; Gilden would remember that for another day, his strength was receding rapidly and even though they barely grazed him… He was beyond exhaustion, already having killed many of them.

He left the city in the opposite direction; some in the city had followed him. After a little while, he turned, roared and cut them all to pieces! Thane had seen the warrior leave, careful to avoid detection of their enemies; he had moved to where he now watched with horrid fascination as the warrior killed twenty of them! Suddenly, the warrior bent over, head drooping… Thane inched towards him and when the warrior looked up, Thane was horrified! His eyes were blood red! Thane fell and scrambled backward.

“Is this… what you saw?” holding out the shining blue vial. Thane nodded. “Take me back… to my brother…” Gilden almost fell, he was finished; his strength gone!

They made it to the outskirts of the tiny village and the warrior collapsed! Panicked, Thane moved into the village wildly waving his arms “Come, he is injured! We must get him!” Yelling, slowly the people came out. Thane grabbed the men and shoved them forward “Go!”.

They drug the warrior into the village.

“Why is he not floating?” one asked.

“I don’t know, maybe… he doesn’t know how to control it?” He had their ability, they knew this. The Latvians shook their heads but kept dragging the warrior into the village.

They drug both brothers into a small hut; the women came in. Thane stood by after he handed the vial off to Lilly. Once she poured the contents down the broken man’s mouth, his back arched and suddenly his eyes flew open! They turned blue and glowed! He screamed, a blood-curdling scream, and then collapsed!

The women rushed forward and laid their hands on him.

“He will live,” said one woman.

“The other?” Thane asked.

“He sleeps from exhaustion. He will live,” Lilly said.

“Stay with them,” Thane left.

He went to tell the people what he had seen! It was miraculous! He told them everything, how he so easily dispatched their enemies! Even beaten and bloody as he was when he first arrived, yet his strength was un-dimmished! The people’s eyes were wide when Thane compared his strength and speed to the denizens of the Great Trench; all of them knew of the horrors of that place!

Kiah awoke in water ‘this is strange’, he thought but he had no problem breathing. He sat up and looked around. There were women nearby and they jumped back when he looked at them, pressing themselves against the walls and covering their mouths; clearly terrified. Kiah ignored them and when he saw his brother face down on the pallet next to him, he immediately reached out to Gilden. Sensing his mind, Kiah breathed a sigh of relief. He knew not where he was, but it mattered not. Somehow, he lived, and so did Gilden. He fell back and was instantly asleep.

Thane came in. “The broke one woke,” the women told him.

Thane nodded. He had seen the blue vial heal their enemies. He was also sure, so sure, that the promise from the warrior would be to protect them. Thane had spent all night buoying up the people’s spirits; they had a protector! Though he knew not of the other, if they were of the same blood… Thane could only feel admiration and fierce joy!

Gilden woke and pushed himself up to a kneeling position. He looked at his brother and put his hand on his chest. Kiah breathed. He turned to look and see more women in there; they had scooted back, but their fear had abated a bit.

“My brother?” Gilden asked, looking at each of the women.

“He lives, his back is no longer broke, he but rests,” Lilly whispered.

“How do you know?” Narrowing his gaze at them, Gilden couldn’t understand how they knew. Gilden knew Kiah had broke his back, he saw it happen! How could these women have known when they didn’t see the battle they were in...

“We…” Unable to finish, Lilly looked at the elderly woman who nodded ‘that was curious’ Gilden thought, she continued “We… women… we can touch, feel what is broke inside; whether a body will live or die from injury…” Lilly watched him, still wary.

“Then why didn’t you heal him?” Confused, Gilden thought, ‘if they could sense injury, then…’

“Oh no! We cannot! We feel and we know… that is all!” one woman responded, clearly afraid he would take retribution on them! Gilden sighed. He turned and sat back against the wall.

“How long have they raided your village?” Gilden was genuinely curious about these people, so cowed, clearly defenseless and incredibly terrified of Gilden… yet they overcame their fear to help him. He would NOT forget that.

“Hundreds… maybe thousands of years! We know not…” the elderly woman said, fighting back tears.

“Generations, going back so far…” another woman stated.

“They want what we have…” another woman stated. The elderly woman moved to her and covered her mouth like a little girl! Yet she was clearly a grown woman… They seemed like children to Gilden. Sighing, it mattered not. They had saved his brother.

“What would that be?” Gilden asked.

“No… we cannot! We have suffered, please we don’t want to suffer more, please!” The women cried… Gilden desperately wished his brother would wake. He was terrible with words. Gilden suspected the people were afraid to tell him because he and his brother might turn on them?

“I can help you but I most know what they covet,” Gilden resigned. This was going to be a long process if they could not get over their fear… Then it dawned on Gilden… He wondered… “Would this coveted thing be your ability?” Gilden inquired.

The women began to cry, again. Gilden just rested his head back; he was being as kind as he could… Then the guide came in.

“Great warrior, you are awake!” Thane exclaimed!

“What is it your enemies covet? I cannot help defend you if I don’t know…” Gilden had just noticed there were hundreds outside the door, craning to see and hear what was being said. All crowded together… sighing again, he had promised. Not that he would retract it, but Kiah needed to wake up. He had a better way about himself.

Thane was clearly uncomfortable until someone outside yelled “Our women!” and quickly the others outside shushed the lone speaker.

“Thane, you must tell me… why your women? Is it this ability they have?” Many were shocked! They looked at the women in the room horrified! To a woman, they all put their heads in their hands and silently wept!

“Tell me! I cannot help you if I am ignorant!” Gilden roared, quickly losing his patience!

“Great warrior please… we… have suffered so much,” the man sobbed. “They take our sons, castrate them for fun! Hang our elders on their walls and our women… I cannot… We do not talk about…” The man couldn’t stop crying.

Kiah moved, groaned. Gilden was immediately at his brother’s side, Kiah opened his eyes and a grin spread slowly on his face “How did we live? Thought it was over this time” Many times they had battled and many times it seemed like it would end.

“Never, I will not lose you,” Gilden said, completely ignoring the other people and sighing a relief at his brother’s smile.

Kiah looked around, again a bit disoriented in the water and saw… all those people! Who were they? “Where…” Looking at Gilden.

“I honestly don’t know, I ran and ran… these people led me to their mortal enemies claiming they had a potion to heal you… clearly they did not lead me astray” Gilden knew his brother, he had a heart of pure gold.

Kiah sat up, stretched, but was still infinitely tired. Clasped his brother’s shoulder and gave a firm grip to show him his love; his brother, the fiercest warrior!

‘I made a promise, Kiah, we are the last…’ Gilden said in his brother’s mind.

Turning to the people, Kiah looked at them, their scarred faces, rags for clothes, fearful eyes... Not a warrior among them; Kiah turned back to his brother and was genuinely shocked they had even helped him. Gilden exudes such power that it radiates off him; with twin swords strapped to his back, being larger than most men, with light armor and bearing many wounds… With that in mind, he turned back to the people with a kind smile and spoke:

“Thank you, good people, who are called and what is this place?” Kiah asked. Well, that opened them up! Gilden hadn’t thought of that! The people babbled over each other so much it was just a cacophony. Kiah held up his hand. They silenced, Gilden rolled his eyes… Kiah winked at him.

“If I may request, one should speak,” Kiah asked gently. Gilden nodded to Thane… Might be the right spokesperson.

“Great… warrior we are Latvians, you are in Lariat and we have lived here since time began. We mine and toil the floor.” Thane said.

‘Good’, Gilden thought, ‘succinct and to the point’ but neither was sure what ‘toil the floor’ meant.

“You seem like a gentle people, why do your enemies attack you?” Kiah asked with raised eyebrows.

“Great...” Kiah stopped him “No need to call me that or my brother, we are not above you” but Thane blurted “I saw!” He pointed at Gilden “Great warrior! He decimated our enemies, and he was little less broken than you!” Thane snapped his mouth shut! Thane didn’t want to insult them, but it was true!

Kiah looked over at Gilden bemused, seems he had missed quite a bit being out. Gilden just shrugged his shoulders “he exaggerates. They were but children, Kiah and the only reason I couldn’t make it back to the village was exhaustion; they barely grazed me” Again shrugging his shoulders, but the people heard and they all knelt! Gilden would not have this! But Kiah grabbed his shoulder and pushed him down. He knew his brother; he had a heart of gold and compassion. His strength was the only thing he had to show compassion.

“Please, do not kneel. Please” The way Kiah said it, the people listened. Reluctantly they rose, but still there was such marvel in their eyes…

“We are mere mortals, gifted, yes, but we can die. So please never bow or kneel to us. We do not want patronage… it seems to me your enemies have utterly devastated and brutally beaten you. I am Kiah the Seer and this is my twin brother Gilden the Warrior,” He winked at Thane for his warrior comment, smiled at the people with his most disarming smile.

“We are the last of a legendary race of people whose name I will keep forever in my heart, for my people are no more. Latvian people, we will help you, even in fear you helped my brother retrieve what was needed to save me and in payment we will strengthen you,” Kiah emphasized that word, many seemed bewildered but some showed a light in their eyes of recognition “We do not want to be your sole saviors, we can die therefore we will strengthen your Blood. Never again will you fear your enemies.”