Outside the temple, a shower of rain drops loosened from an overhanging branch hung motionless in mid-air like a suspended necklace of diamonds. The creature gazed at it sadly.
‘You would really end all of this?’ it asked, gesturing to the surrounding forest and wider world.
‘Yes, if that’s what it takes,’ I replied stubbornly.
‘But don’t you love your home?’
‘I hate the angeli more.’
I found no judgement in its voice, just a sigh that seemed to linger on the early morning mists. It pointed up to the heavens and a bright star there that I hadn’t noticed before.
‘They call that “Wormwood”. Do you understand now?’
‘The sign of the last days?’
‘Yes. Whether you complete your task or not, it will be completed for you.’
I turned to look at it more closely. ‘Just who are you exactly? What do you want with me?’
The creature shrugged its misshapen form. ‘The beautiful creatures they call “angels” here are false – you understand this and they hunt you. But some of us are genuine. They once used to call me Uriel – God’s light and the bringer of destiny.’
‘But …’
‘Yes, we’re not quite so good looking, I’m afraid.’
Comments
insertponceyfre... | December 10, 2010 - 08:36
Any luck with finding an illustrator Rob? I was wondering just now if this would work in a comic book format (the really nice kind) - but I think perhaps proper old fashioned fairy book style would be better - like the Andrew Lang ones.
Silver Spun Sand | December 10, 2010 - 09:42
What a brilliant idea of insert's, Rob!
Strangely enough, just now as I was reading, I was visualising the characters without realising. Pity I can't draw for toffee-nuts;-) Seriously though, much enjoyed and well done on the cherry.
Tina
fatboy74 | December 10, 2010 - 12:07
Hi Rob, Another one very much enjoyed, I fear I may miss the ending however but can catch up later, although reading them all at once doesn't have the same excitement as waiting for the next one to appear! Well done. :-)
rjnewlyn | December 11, 2010 - 01:22
Many thanks Insert and Tina and Fatboy. And many thanks for the cherry.
I did go to an illustrator site (the one you suggested Insert) and put in an ad on a forum there for 'writer seeks illustrator' but I was one of very many asking the same thing (and nobody else seemed to be getting much response either). I'd be interested in going down that route but may have to wait for the chance meeting ...
Fatboy, I'd been wondering for a while whether the end would come before Christmas but I think it's looking unlikely. So there may still be something to wait for! Enjoy Norfolk.
Rob
Sooz006 | May 13, 2012 - 17:40
That's mad, you'd think they'd be falling over themselves to find talented writers to work with. I like the one they used to call Uriel. The raindrop necklace is beautiful. And the description of his eyes both in this part and the last.
rjnewlyn | May 14, 2012 - 01:20
Thanks Sooz. I'm not sure they were really looking for writers on that site, but I'm keeping my ear to the ground.
Rob