My family had built the cathedral generations ago. It was considered our crowning achievement. They said it would stand forever,  a fitting tribute to the greatness of the family. And it did stand for centuries, against many odds.

Leave to us to ultimately be the ones to being about it’s ruin.

Oh, we didn’t do it in one fell swoop. No grand gesture. It was slow,  creeping like the waters of a river, eating at its banks. Slow so no one noticed it happening, til it was too late to stop it. To save the cathedral.

To save my family.

The way was deceptively easy. I could feel it. Despite the old woman’s words, I was in no hurry to trod on the trail. But her twisted smile as she spoke to me had said it all. There was no choice. If I wanted to win the kingdom, I would have to make the journey. 

My hand on my sword, I walked the path. Each step a cautious one. Still the dart found it’s mark. My body fell to the side. The world darkened and I soon learned the reason for those twisted shapes, covered by the too green moss