A Tale of the Wilderness...via Ted Dekker's desert.

~ Prologue ~

The sun had sunk below the desert skyline, its last dying rays shooting up like jagged fingers across the deepening purple western sky. The chilly night air was already beginning to set in, beginning with a light breeze along the desert floor. The scattered fires of the small encampment inside the narrow canyon were burning brightly. It's inhabitants settling in for the night. A lone figure sat on a log at the furtherest fire out, near the mouth of the canyon, absently staring into the flames. The bright light danced across a well shaped tan face, and deep green eyes of a young woman. Her chin was resting in her cupped hands and she was slightly bent forward, causing her long, dark hair to fall across her straight, strong shoulders in abundant waves. A sword lay near her feet in a leather scabbard and shield leaned up against the log beside her. Her clothing was like that of all the Guard...leather battle moccasins, which reached half-way up her calves, a short leather skirt and leather armor covered her torso. But her arms were left bare. The thigh guards she had discarded, lay several feet away in the dust. All were made from a hardened leather, that deflected blows quite easily. A scar ran down one of her arms, vaguely visible in the flickering fire light. She was obviously a hardened warrior.
But the young woman's thoughts were far from war or anything of that sort. She closed her eyes fighting against the voices in her head.

It was for love you were created.

That was Elyon's voice quiet and comforting.

I cannot love what is evil.

But you do love the evil...you are sick, disgusting. Just as they are.

That was the voice that tormented her.

No...a tear slipped down her smooth cheek, I only asked to see, Elyon, I didn't expect this. Why I am tormented?

It is only in you that the answers will be found. What choice will you make?

She felt warmth surrounding her as Elyon spoke, but still coldness clung to her heart.

Was it for this that I was born?

No answer.

Her eyes flew open and she hugged herself against the chill. The silence strangely gave her rest.

Remember.

She cringed...remember? Why would she want to do that?

Elyon, please...

Silence.

She buried her face in her knees, softly beginning to weep. Remembering hurt to badly, it stung to deep. But slowly the memories did begin to come and she could do nothing to stop it. She began to remember, remember better times...before her struggle within herself, before death, before the desert...before...