CHAPTER 25: DEIDRE'S GARDEN

Norrin and Nassima navigated the deserted streets in rapid and silent succession with Nassima leading the way. The city continued to be dark and foreboding. But after a while, Norrin began to wonder if there was actually anything to the curse which plagued its reputation or the looming menace Nassima perceived earlier. Nassima did not notice anything out of the ordinary, and Light’s Reach did not give him any of the telltale warning signs of impending dangers. As they approached the city’s center, he relaxed a little and let down his guard.

In the heart of the city was the Garden of Adoration. The park dedicated to the Lady Deidre, as Tsikki explained. It was a large open greenspace made to be a central place for inhabitants of the city to congregate and enjoy a natural setting. But like the rest of the city, it fell into ruin. Norrin walked the overgrown path and observed how nature reclaimed the entire space. Hedges and wild bushes became unruly and grew past their artificial borders. Wildflowers, high grasses, and weeds took over the eating spaces, and long vines crept around the play areas for children.

In the center of the park sat a large statue of a beautiful smiling woman. She held a bouquet of roses in one arm, with the other arm outstretched, offering one of the flowers in her delicate hand to the people passing her by. The darkened stone surface of the statue was also coiled in vines, but the weathered and unkempt look did not diminish from the loveliness of the sculpture.

“This must be the Lady Deidre,” Norrin said as he admired the monument “She was a beautiful woman.”

“Yes, she was,” Nassima agreed as she floated upwards to study the sculpture. At the higher angle Nassima was able to see the face in more detail. She admired the image of Lady Deidre and noted even though the statue was smiling, there was still a hint of melancholy in her expression.

Norrin cleared a couple of weeds at the base of the statue, revealing a small plaque. It read:

“Blessed be those who know of Love, for they know a power which spans space and time. They know of the most powerful force in the Universe. May they cherish it and let it guide them forever.”

-Lady Deidre Marcellus de Anton

He contemplated over the words meaning when something laying by the base caught his eyes. It was a small delicate golden ring shaped like two snakes intertwined together. The heads of the snakes met at a round light blue gemstone which they held with their mouths. The gem still shimmered as if was freshly polished, catching the light even though the skies were dark and gray. Norrin picked it up, and examined it closer, admiring its details.

“What have you found?” Nassima asked.

“A ring,” Norrin said holding up the jewelry. “Look there, one of the statue's fingers is broken. The ring must have been placed on it. What do you think we should we do with it?”

Nassima reached for the ring by habit but pulled back realizing she could not hold it in her grasp. But its intricate design and the beauty of the gleaming gem entranced her.

“It must have belonged to Lady Deidre at some point if it was on the statue. Maybe you can bring it to Tsikki upon our return. I am sure she will cherish it, as a memento of her lost friend.”

“Yes, I will do that,” Norrin said as he secured the ring inside a pocket behind his armor.

He was uplifted by the thought that Nassima also planned on revisiting Tsikki and the Temple together. Maybe there was a deeper friendship they developed, and they were not only connected for the task of getting back her body.

“We should get moving.” He told her with a small grin.

Nassima noticed Norrin’s change of mood. Something uplifted his spirit and she felt a renewed sense of energy flowing through his body. Something she said, but she was oblivious of what it could be.

They continued their trek through the park, and were approaching the exit when Nassima paused. “Look there,” she whispered as she pointed out the subject that caught her attention.

On a solitary bench sat two figures. A man and woman, seated in an embrace, facing away from the park. Norrin assumed it was another statuette until the woman placed her head on the man’s shoulder in the gentle manner of a couple enjoying their day together.

There are people living here? But that’s impossible Norrin thought.

He slowly crept up from behind while Nassima drifted out in front get an idea of who these people were. But in his curiosity, Norrin could not wait to question the strange couple living in the abandoned city.

“Hello?” He called out and looked to Nassima for confirmation. But the shock on her face made him realize he made a mistake. Light’s Reach sent a static shock through his hand as a warning, as the two figures perked up. Norrin watched with horror as their heads did a full 180-degree turn to reveal their desiccated skulls, as their burning red eyes locked onto him. The ghoulish couple unhinged their rotting jaws and yelled out a horrifying screech, then they leapt over the bench and rushed at him in unison. They moved so fast that Norrin was only just able to call on Light’s Reach and strike down the man, before dodging the woman and hitting her with a second strike from his spear, exploding both bodies into piles of bones and rubble.

“What in the cold hell was that?!” He exclaimed to Nassima who was still stunned and confused by the sight of the walking dead. Raising the dead was forbidden to the Azuri, so she could not imagine what, or who, wrought these creatures to existence.

“Look!” was her only reply.

Norrin turned his head to see the bones started to wiggle and move towards each other, as if being pulled to together with invisible strings. He watched in dismay as the undead carcasses began to gather and reassemble themselves piece by piece. Norrin decided not to stick around until they were finished. He dashed out of the park, and into a full sprint down the street.