Prophecy (Part Three)

More movement towards another part of the desert. Brown sands gave way to an area that was green with a lake of blue water, an oasis.

The people there Islana recognized, especially the two Priests, Agizul and Amastan. There was no surprise that magik was sensed from them, after all the redhead already knew they were both magikal. They, along with others in their group, appeared to be in mourning or that was the guess. If Islana was on the Pilgrimage of Bones then the Prophetess must have died, she was not that surprised that the Priests seemed in mourning, even if Islana didn't think for long on how they would have known that. She just chalked it up to a connection they had with the Prophetess.

Floating away slightly from the Priests, and towards the familiar guards, then focusing in on Shalia.

While Islana had resigned herself, a while back, that she might not see Alexis or Gonyaul again, and was grateful for the opportunity to do so. Leaving Shaila had come as unexpected and frankly Islana felt bad just disappearing on the older witch without warning, even if the young witch had no say in the matter.

The redhead watched the dark haired woman for only an instant before being transported slightly away from the oasis. Her heart sank and stomach churred, as green eyes lay sight on to the man - the evil, vile Malacost. Not only was the bounty hunter spying on the oasis but he wasn't alone. The men he was with seemed like bandits. Unlike the flashes of the future, this felt very much in the here and now. Islana wanted to warn Shaila but could not, there was nothing to do but hope the woman and the people in the oasis would be alright.

A flash hit Islana once again and this time she was in Ostiarium. The city looks different. Bigger, ringed by tall stone walls and a might gate. Islana sees a sea of farmers and woodsman trying desperate to enter the city. Huge rolling clouds are approaching fast from the north, ominiously buffeted by strong winds.

The young woman noticed that the temperature is dropping fast with the coming night, as torches and braziers are lit across the ramparts.

Bowmen and spearmen line the walls. Grim determination and desperation on their hardened faces.

Suddenly Islana sees her, Shalia Nix, riding a snow white horse at the head of the largest army she has ever seen. It starts to snow, heavily. The winds become bitterly cold, with a cutting edge to it. The fear from the city at her coming is palpable. The redhead sees she carries murder in her eyes and vengeance in her heart.

Islana knew the battle to come is pivotal in the future of Arcadia. To her own future.

The Winter Witch raises her fists and a blizzard descends on the Gate City and her army storms forward…

The young witch didn't know what to think of that revelation. Like the other premonitions, there needed to be more time to think on it but time wasn't granted before she was given another look into the future.

There sat a woman in a strange city, Islana has never been to before. She is rocking herself in an old chair looking at our to the Great Desert beyond. It's getting dark and the last sun rays glistens in dark orange hues across the rapidly cooling sands.

The woman pulls on a multi coloured shawl across her shoulders. Tattered and almost as old as the woman herself. She is smiling into the sunset. This is the twilight of her long life. Islana looks down at the woman's weathered face. For a brief moment she felt as if she was looking down at herself, but that is not possible, the woman on the balcony of the tallest building has dark hair, and brown eyes. But the more Islana looks at the home the more the strange feeling grows that she is indeed looking at herself. Someone she is meant to become or someone she was.

It's confusing and strange. The old woman looks up. She seems to smile directly at Islana and raises her hand pointing to the desert.

The young woman turns just in time to see a huge sandstorm rushing towards the city. The Maelstrom.

Islana closed her eyes and opened them to find herself drifting once again on an invisible current. This time the movement felt like a sense of urgency accompanied it, like there was almost not enough time to get where she was going.