Gather

A sample text from the book that goes with this illustration-

I pressed on through the Rooted forest, listening intently for the haunting rustle of a Tempter's cloak. Yet the only sounds were the ever present flutter of Watcher wings and the shifting branch of a Rooted. Here and there the Watchers eyes pierced through the night to watch me, trying to understand me even as I try to understand them. I'm sure that even if I were to explain what my purpose was to them that no understanding would show on their ever staring faces.

I caught a flicker of fire light ahead and instinctively moved towards it. After all, any light had to be better than the abyssmal dark of the Faceless World's night. The shadows stretched out behind me as I passed between two Rooted and into a clearing, and within I discovered that sources of light in the Faceless World have keepers.

Three thick white masks stared intently back at me, their unseeing eyes almost as piercing as a Watcher's gaze. Three Masked studied me cautiously as I froze in the clearing, not wanting to seem hostile. Yet it's the fourth face that captured my attention the most. A Faceless, sitting amongst the Masked as though nothing strange was going on. It shifted it's blank face towards me, then back to the fire.

The closest of the Masked shifted over on it's makeshift seat that was a Rooted leg and seemed to summon me over. I obeyed. I sat down next to the strange companions and pulled out my journal. It recognized the Masked but not the Faceless. So it truly was a unique creature. I looked closer at it and realize that the normally pristine suit was spotted in a manor like the Masked's garb. How remarkable! I have witnessed Blanks in the process of changing but never a Faceless. Perhaps his companions were the cause of this strange creature.

As though reading my thoughts, the Masked who had made room for me began to explain.

"It was wandering when we found it; lost and confused. The home line had rejected it, and a Tempter followed it for many days. We still have to keep the Tempter at bay, because it's vulnerable right now. But when it has made it's final choice about what it wants to be, then the Tempter will have less power over it."

There was a rustle in the shadows behind me and it took all of my control not to jump and run into the night, but the calming presence of the Masked kept me grounded.

"Even now the Tempter is hoping for its chance," the Masked explained as it scratched it's covered face. "But it won't get it as long as our wandering Faceless friend here doesn't run off."

The Faceless nodded in silent agreement and reached forward to warm its hands. My journal took it all in and catagorized the new creature as a Wandering Faceless. Perhaps the darkness of the Faceless World night could be pierced after all. But just in case, I stayed with the Masked and the Wandering Faceless till day break, and when we parted ways, four Masked walked off together and there were no Tempters to be seen.

~

An original illustration for the Faceless World. A book I'm writing and illustrating.
India ink on stonehenge white paper.

Do NOT use without my permission.

Come see the Faceless World on its own site- www.thefacelessworld.com