Judith Part 3

    “I can help you get what you want,” the little voice says.
    “What do I want?” Judith asks as she turns around looking behind her. She turns back to the door. It is closing. As it snaps closed, it disappears.
    “To find a way home. My name is Awaif. You can’t see me, but don’t worry I can get you home again. Now these pillars move as a bishop on a chess field. Start with the third black one, and I will help you from there.”
    Judith listens to Awaif, and follows every hint he gives. As she moves the last piece into place a beam of light jumps from pillar to pillar. All the pillars disappear into the grass and the checkerboard pattern fades away.
    “Look in the grass behind the Dark King’s perch”
    Judith walks around the rock while asking, “The man in black is a king?”
    “Oh yes.  A wise and mighty king, but do not test him. He does not take well to failure. I failed him once long ago.
    Judith is looking around in the grass and suddenly finds a bow and quiver of arrows.
Awaif whispers, “Take the bow and quiver and follow the path.”
    “What path?” As Judith asks she sees a path lead over a hill and reappear farther along. She watches as it meanders off into the distance.

    Judith and Awaif have many adventures. She narrowly avoids losing an arm to the Giant Sky Slug.  She captures the Wind Compass from the Pigmy Pixie people. She obtains the Sword of Tears from the three-headed Sphinx of Ungar Pass. She studies magic under Dr. Jothan Strangle. She rescues a rare winged unicorn from the Giant’s stables on the border of the southern wastelands.

    At last, Judith and Awaif reach the Dark King’s palace deep in the forest of Everlasting Sorrow. The Dark King greets them at the gates. “Thank you Awaif. You are a good and faithful servant.”
    A beautiful young man appears next to Judith. He too is draped in a feathered cloak. His dark hair hangs in his eyes and says, “I am sorry Judith. I had to. We all want to go home and you are our path.” He steps away and into the shadows.
“You said it best. We can take you home, but you must trust your King. Quickly, the Dark King reaches for her, just as she dives off the street to the forest floor hundreds of feet below. She quickly reaches into her quiver, and pulls an arrow with a cord attached to it. She draws the arrow back and aims for a branch. It strikes just as Judith grabs the cord, and begins to swing through the trees. At the apex of her swing she lets go, grabs a branch, and climbs up to the city streets. All the while, the Dark King transforms into a flock of black birds and follows her. She ducks down an alley to catch her breath.
    “He is here.” She hears, but is too late. The Dark King appears in front of her, in one swift movement draws the Sword of Tears, and stabs Judith. She falls to the cobble stone alleyway. She looks up at the Dark King.
    She starts to fade. Things are going black.
    “Now you can join us. We love you Judith.”

-P