He could only tell they were dead because they lacked the telltale glow of life. Some-the younger and more confused spirits-reached out supplicating hands to him, begging for help, reassurance, or comfort, but Walker did not reply.
There was only one spirit who never talked to him, and Walker only spoke to that one.
'Father,' he said softly. 'Tarm, my father.'
As if in reply, the spirit of the middle-aged man turned to him. Dark, wavy hair fell to his shoulders and soft brown eyes peered at Walker. Tarm was dressed as he had died, in the priestly vestments of Tyr, the deity of justice he had served. As always, the spirit was silent, allowing Walker to speak to himself, to allow his thoughts to reflect back in his own ears.
'Father, I have slain one of them, one of our murderers,' said Walker. 'Justice has been done at long last.'
Tarm's spirit only looked at him with that same sad expression. Then, as though unhappy with Walker, the spirit turned away and disappeared into the trees.
Walker might have felt wounded, except that he knew this feeling all too well. His father never approved of the deaths he inflicted, even those that were necessary. He was always there, except when Walker killed. At those times, Tarm would leave to walk on his invisible path, toward what, the ghostwalker did not know.
Walker turned back to the spirits crowding around him, begging for his attention. Another memory came then, unbidden-a flash of the past Walker could not decipher. A spectral laugh, that of the shadows themselves.
As always, though, Walker ignored their pleas. Many of the weaker spirits did not even see him as distinct-his life-force was so in touch with the ethereal. He was, as in material life, merely an observer, existing on the fringes of the world. He could not have accepted or met those pleas even had he tried and he could not fully join in the ghost world, because something held him back, something that was fiercely material and could only be satisfied in the world of the living.
Vengeance.
He had a thirst to punish those who had wronged him-who still wronged him. He lived for his revenge. It was his task, the task that was his only purpose. And when that task was done-
Blurred memories-a laughing face, covered with his blood, looming over him. Drex… the warrior with the woodsman's axe. Other faces… other men, four others beside Drex. He did not know their names yet, but he would find out…
A smile gleamed in the moonlight above him.
No, that wasn't true. He did not have to find them all anew.
That mocking smile. Those lips that had spoken such kind words leveled a curse at him instead as he lay panting for breath on the grass. 'Now, let us teach him how to sing,' it said.
He knew one without seeing his face, the one he would kill last.
The thought and sight of his ghostly enemy pulled him from the ghost world. Before he returned to his body, though, there was one more vision, just a flash.
The boy… the boy with the dark eyes and ebony curls…
There was something significant about that boy… there was pain in those eyes.
No matter, though. Walker had to complete his vengeance- his thirst would permit no less. It was all that had driven him for as long as he could remember.
Then Walker opened his eyes in the Material world.
'Well met, my lady,' Walker said in perfect Elvish.
'Well met,' a rich, sonorous voice replied in kind. There was a bit of laughter in its tone. 'How did you know I was here?'
'I am at peace,' Walker said. 'And I am always at peace when you are near.' He looked.
Standing before him was a diminutive woman with sparkling gold skin and gleaming hair that flowed to her waist. Her eyes glittered a majestic hazel with crimson motes and her lips were brushed with the slightest touch of frost. Resplendent in her partial gown of leaves-leaf-shaped pieces of leather stitched in intricate patterns and wound around her slim frame in a manner as wild as it was beautiful-she crossed her arms over her breast and smiled.
Gylther'yel, the Ghostly Lady of legend.
She smiled thinly. 'That does not mean I cannot attempt to catch you unawares,' Gylther'yel said. 'Your abilities grow stronger by the day.'
'Abilities you taught me.'
Gylther'yel accepted the compliment without a twitch.
'You are not ready,' she said. Walker felt a stab of irritation.
'We have spoken of this before,' he rasped, his tone flat in warning. 'You tell me the same thing every year- that I am not ready.'
'I am not about to question your methods, or even your need for revenge,' Gylther'yel said. 'I only question your timing. Perhaps another year of training-'
'My training is complete. I have struck the first blow,' Walker said. 'I have delivered my warning. My task is a matter of speed now, and I cannot stop.'
'I understand, but why now, of all seasons?' Gylther'yel asked, her voice tranquil. 'The snows are falling away and the sun is returning, but Auril still holds sway. The winter is not over.'
'All the more fitting for my vengeance,' said Walker. 'Let them feel fear colder than the snows around them. I am at my strongest when a chill wind blows.'
'And I am at my weakest,' Gylther'yel countered. Indeed, Walker knew that the ghost druid was most powerful with her fire magic. 'The cold is anathema to my powers.'
'My deathday approaches-less than a tenday,' Walker said. 'It is a fitting time.'
She continued despite his reply. 'You are my guardian, my champion-what if they were to follow you back here? I have not raised you to bring danger to my doorstep…'
Walker smiled. 'I did not realize you were so humorous, Gylther'yel,' he rasped. Walker had watched the Ghostly Lady hurl fire and call down lightning to smite adventurers who strayed from the paths. He turned away. 'Anyone foolish enough to challenge you deserves to feed the earth with his ashes.'
Gylther'yel did not nod, but a hint of a smile crossed her golden face. 'Still, I warn you against allowing your vendetta to harm my woods.' Her face grew stormy. 'If you fight here, you will be on your own, and if you fall, so be it. I will not interfere with the will of nature-'
'The strongest and fittest will survive, I know,' Walker said. 'But fear not. Even the fiercest wolf leads the wild boar away from its den-and family.'
His silver wolf ring gleamed as he stood. Its single sapphire eye radiated a calm but dangerous light. It was silent, stoic, and resolute; like Walker himself.
'You speak true,' the sun elf said. 'Only your timing-'
He rounded on her. 'I saw him, Gylther'yel!' he shouted, suddenly speaking in the Common tongue. His voice shattered and broke in his ears. 'I saw the boy! He is important, I know it!'
With that, Walker sank to his knees, his hands over his face, racked by unknown tremors. His cloak billowed in the strong breeze and all was silent.
Gylther'yel moved as though to comfort him, but stopped, her attention turned to another face. Tarm, priest of the Justicar, appeared out of the shadows as though drawn to Walker's grief, trying to speak. She hissed at Tarm and the spirit retreated. His father had always feared Gylther'yel, the only mother Walker had ever known.
The ghost druid stepped back and folded her arms over her breast. 'I am sorry, Walker,' she said. 'I remembered for a moment your sweet voice, wafting on the breezes that breathed through this place, before…' She trailed off.
His blue eyes opened. 'Do not remind me of days that are gone,' he said, speaking Elvish again. His ragged voice was bitter. 'I remember the sword that silenced my song. Now all that remains is vengeance.'
'Walker, I remember your song-' Gylther'yel started.
