“Would you stop, we are the only ones here.” Mya stopped before a small wooden door at the end of the small corridor to catch him performing his check again.
“Something is there, how do you not feel it?” Faer looked beyond into the darkness, beyond where the light ended. “There is a life to the shadow.”
“Focus Faer, we are here.” On Mya’s words, Faer spun his head around to her opening the crude handled door.
The new room on the other side was even smaller than the hallway they stood in, the door didn’t seem to fit but, somehow could accommodate a small library. Barely a broom closet. Books ran from wall to wall without stopping, all shapes, colouring, and sizes. Only what light there was in Mya’s hand cascaded into the room to barely create a shadow from shelf to shelf.
“Caltraa buntra kuloa, dun traf.” Mya had closed her eyes as she spoke. Her words held in the air like some unseen ethereal being was repeating them. A handful of symbols of the ancient language began to shine softly across one of the shelves. Reaching out with her empty hand, she touched a small series of them from right to left that was shortly followed by a distant clicking.
The hair on Faer’s neck stood up again, making him turn back to the darkness behind them. This new feeling made him draw his sword on the empty shadows in the corridor. With blade at the ready, he shoved Breen behind him and Mya.
“Something is there.” Faer squinted, trying to focus on the shadows. A quiet noise of shelving moving filled the air behind him.
Mya touched him on the shoulder. As he starting to stand up and lower his guard, a subtle movement of shadow on shadow brought him back to a rigid protective stance.
A large hulking figure hunched over and dressed in a ragged black cloak lunged forward from the darkness. The attack from the living shadow slammed into Faer and sent him against the wall before disappearing further down the corridor and into the still shadow. Before he could hit the floor, Breen had run off into the small room and through the opening in the shelving. Mya had stepped in front of her as she passed by.
“I knew something was there.” Faer stood up quickly with his blade ready to where the shadow faded.
“Something could not have gotten this deep into the castle, there are wards.” Mya rubbed her hands together to form a green ball of fire between her hands. The little flame was very solid looking and sparkled as if it were electrified.
Another lunge from the shadow, this time they were ready. Faer quickly slashed up with his blade, but their attacker was fast. Really fast. His attempt hit nothing but air. Mya expanded her hands, letting go of the green flame and sending it down the corridor. A loud clash of what sounded like stone on stone was sent back toward them with a white light. The light was bright enough to remove all shadow and the ability to make new.
“Nothing.” Mya scanned both directions of the corridor quickly.
“Let’s go, the door should seal soon.” Faer back peddled into the closet, tapping her shoulder as he went.
Mya followed and readied two small blue fireballs, one in each hand. The flash from the first bolt was starting to fade. With the two of them past the door to the room, a scratching noise could be heard in the adjoining space. Just before she could get past the shelving the assailant exploded from the shadows again, slamming into her and sending her backwards. The cloaked shadow caught her wrist before she could fall to the ground or be able to release the fire. The air between them condensed, creating a protection that the figure stopped before. It seemed wary of getting close to it.
“Meidrae, raptruks duu Furhdrae.” The cloaked figure sounded haunting and made the air feel heavy. Everything about the attacker was dark, hunched over in menace and carried the look of a hulking shadow. Dust and a shadowy essence seemed to cascade from the bottom of its cloak, a mist almost. Bearing extremely sharp claws on the four digits of its hand, its grip was strong and felt like it could easy break her bones without trying. Lifting its head through the shambles of its hood, a long lizard like face came into view. Although difficult to see, the pitch-black scales it had matched its hand.
“Meidrae, raptruks duu Furhdrae.” It spoke again.
Mya starred into its black eyes. Something about them made her feel sad for the creature. On her free hand she could feel Breen pulling on it to try and free her. With a quick push, she knocked Breen back a step to free it from the child. Crumpling her hand into a fist for a second and then into an open ball shape, a small blue fire filled her palm. With one quick motion, she punched through the shield toward the lizard beasts face.
It saw the attack coming and released her other arm, causing the blue flame to spark out into nothing before blocking the attack with a quick deflection of her arm. The blue fire ball shot up into the ceiling erupting the room into a bright light. With a scream of pain, the hulk crouched close to the floor with an attempt of evasion and darted back into the dark hallway as it pushed her away, disappearing to the shadows. Mya fell back past the shelving as the sliding wall slammed quickly in front of her.
“My lady, are you alright?” Breen rushed to her side.
“I’m fine, that thing could have easily ripped my arm off, what stayed it?” She couldn’t keep her eyes off the shelf in front of her.
“What was it?” Faer stood beside her, extending a hand down to help her up. Mya could only shake her head as she stood with his assistance.
• • •
“It’s about time you showed up, and with such a pitiful entrance.” Jaxson sat on the edge of the desk. The three of them looked towards the small imp, Breen gave a quiet yelp of surprise and fear at the sight the talking monster. Mya and Faer could only smirk at Jaxson’s sarcastic tone.
“It’s ok Breen, he’s harmless.” Mya kept her hand on Breen’s shoulder.
“Where is Turi?” Faer looked around at the library, not a book out of place.
“He is down in the throne room. They must be waiting for you.” Jaxson popped off the desk into the air and floated towards the three.
“Waiting for us, I assume he has been expecting us to show up then, as always?” Mya bounced her pack and ran her hand down her body, flattening a fold in her shirt.
“Ever since Grand Marshall Grinn made an attempt on his life he has been asking for updates of where you were and when you were getting back. With the news from Mount Guul, it has been a little crazy around here.”
“What?” Both Mya and Faer spoke at the same time and looked at each other.
“Yes. It was around the time after news came back from Mount Guul that you had fallen; Grinn thought it an ample time to take his place here. With you gone, it was a little more achievable to take the city. As you could see from outside. He showed up one day with ‘news’ and there was a bit of an altercation”
“Couldn’t Turi just have…”
“Not without causing problems with The Order. They called him to Durindal for a follow up with the civil problems in Gurglin.”
“So no one was here to help?” Faer cut into the conversation.
“General Cotie came back from Gurglin early and had word that Grinn was on his way here with the Darke army. Elves, goblins, orcs, trolls, turtles and the Gurge. Luckily you came back before they started the main push into the city.” Jaxson floated down to the floor and sat, playing with his tail.
“And Turi?” Mya knelt to get closer to the imp.
“Well, you two. Three. Should head down to the throne room and talk to him and King Uridine before anything else happens. They will have more for you; all I have is what I see from the window.”
“Suppose we can give them some good news.” Mya stood.
“News?”
“Grinn won’t be the problem they were dreading.” Mya gave an evil smirk.
“Dead?” Mya nodded at his question, bringing a small smile to his face. “Excellent. I never liked him.”
“We also found this on Mount Guul.” Faer stepped forward and pulled a small black urn shaped item from his inside po
cket.
“Necrolin’s Cup!” Jaxson jumped into the air in excitement.
“How do you know what it is?” Faer gave him a sideways look.
“Take it with you, Turi will want to see it. It is not every day that the relics comes into our realm. Off with you, hurry, you have wasted too much time already.” Jaxson shooed them with both hands.
Faer looked down at the child with them, “Breen, we have to make one last stop and then we can go look for your parents. Alright?”
The child nodded.
The three set out towards the main library door, leaving the small librarian to his books once again. Quickly making their way through the halls of the palace, they passed by all sorts of relics and portraits of royalty. Murals and tapestries, guards and random staff of the city. Breen couldn’t keep her head still, looking left and right at everything. As they passed by soldiers, their eyes would widen with the disbelief of who walked by.
“It’s so nice in here.” Breen spoke with a little smile.
“It’s home to a lot of people and has been for a very long time.” Mya looked up a painting as they walked by. “One more staircase until we are there. Once there, I will need you to stay with Faer until I get a chance to talk with the King.”
Breen nodded again.
One of the staircases they were on widened to a magnificently massive walkway above, everything looked to be carved from a greenish marble like stone. Part way up, the wall faded and opened into an expansive room that had pillars scattered all over, stretching way up into a lavish green ceiling littered with ornate gold etchings and symbols. Glass patterns filled in random areas making it easy to see the morning sky beyond. The patterns had a floral feel, like the room and pillars below were the stalk and roots of an ever-growing tree, as if Freyolin had blessed the house herself.
Reaching the bottom of the stairs, they headed into the center of the room which filled out into a circular section with another staircase of similar size across the way and two larger doors to the left and right. Each door stood very tall and looked quite sturdy. The ornate gold etching vined its way down from the ceiling and carried through the doors, wrapping around a glass handle with gold embedded into it in the same manner.
A wide blood red and gold carpet which connected the doors, disappeared under each side and extend further than the room beyond. Noises of battle could be heard through one of the doors, it gave Mya an unsettling feeling after seeing the lack of military presence in the hall. She looked up the other stair and then over to the side door with the battle on the other side before shaking her head. Placing a hand on Breen’s shoulder in assurance she nudged her towards the other door where a single guard stood.
His armour was plain compared to the rest of the room but still very royal looking, very ornate, very clean. With wide eyes in seeing the three of them, the surprise was apparent, but no words were exchanged. Mya bounced her pack and nodded toward the guard who Breen was pushed toward who nodded back before reaching out to the child.
• • •
“The troops are set to repel the invaders; we have squads garrisoned on the walls to the north and south set to intercept the Gurge and those damn turtles. The mages are set near the gate along with the archers, they are doing what they can to keep them from the gate, but it won’t be long until they push through.” A large man stood at the top of a small set of stairs dressed in a heavy looking set of armour. The look about him was very similar to the guards scattered about but with a lot more detail, the General. He carried a dented helmet under his arm that looked as though it had been through a few battles.
The collection of men and women at the top of the stairs was small and held a royal aura about them. A hunched over old man dressed in robes, looked like a librarian, and stood next to a taller clean statesman who stood up tall. Three ropes slung over his shoulder and his clean look; Mya would know Bravin anywhere. The obvious dressed King stood next to a small padded chair that sat two elegant looking women. Finally, two rough looking armoured men stood beside the speaking soldier who also carried the look of many battles.
Everyone was wearing some sort of battle attire with different looks of status and colouring. The General and his lieutenants were the only ones with dents and scarring from years of battle. A small dragon symbol could be seen on his back which looked like it was crawling in circles around his torso and eating its own tail; the two beside him had similar features but with different shades of black.
All three soldiers had longer black hair and two carried a large weapons; a blade looking flange mace with a glass looking spike on the bottom of the hilt adorned one of the soldiers, the other was a huge sword strapped to his back that stretched almost as tall as he was. The look of the blade was simple, as if someone took a typical wide blade longsword and enlarged it. The General had two skinny long blades crossed on his back that extended just past his waist; one had a yellowish red hue coming out of the hilt, like it had a soul of lava urging to break free, the other was a milky white that had an icy clearness to it, almost like it were cut from a glacier.
The only pair not wearing some sort of steel were the women; slender and a little shorter than the rest. Their dresses were very form fitting and elegant, carrying the curves of their bodies in a clean flow. The younger wore a dark royal blue that had a single thick strap over her shoulder and extended down one side to her calf and stopping just above her waist and on the other side with a wide slit exposing her skin. The older woman other had the same style of dress green with little to no exposure of her skin. The bottom of her dress stretched and glistened in the light as she fidgeted in her seat.
“Ah, there she is.” The King’s gaze changed from the General to Mya as she approached the dais.
Everyone turned their attention to her as silence filled the throne room.
“I knew she didn’t fall on Guul, there would have been no way.” Turi’s voice rose from the old robed man.
“They were only rumours Turi, she is skilled in many ways.” The King spoke in a deep calm tone that resonated through the entire room. A very authoritative feeling echoed off the walls making everyone pay attention as he spoke. “And, who is the young one?” Breen could be seen next to the guard back near the door, watching, listening.
Fear looked over his shoulder at the child and turned back. “Breen Guuri, your highness. She was out collecting Harmin for her father and became separated from the palace when the army showed up.”
“Harmin. The blacksmiths daughter then. Funny he would have her collecting the oil for him.” King Uridine peered over to the child. His face was clean with few wrinkles that made him look as if he were still young. “Come here child.”
Breen cautiously walked towards the dais and stopped just before the stairs and curtseyed.
“Why were you out collecting oils for your father?” King Uridine spoke with a soft and calming tone that made it hard for Breen to not smile.
“He had been too busy to get some, and I wanted to help.” Breen shied away from his gaze.
“Guard, seems we need to find her parents. Take her to the caves, they should be with everyone else.” The soldier in full head to toe steel stepped from the entry and stopped beside Breen. “Go with her my dear, she will keep you safe.” Breen curtseyed again and turned to leave.
The guard that appeared took her helmet off and smiled towards the child. With an outstretched hand, Breen stepped over in the excitement to see her family again. Looking back towards the group at the top of the stairs, she waved to Faer and Mya with a smile of thanks. The two smiled back and waved a small wave back. Holding the gauntlet of the guard’s hand, the two made their way toward the main door and disappeared through a side door.
“Father, enough of the formalities and distractions. Focus on the matter at hand.” The younger woman to the side of the king spoke with heightened annoyance.
“Tharissa.” The older Elven woman snapped at the princess.
“We were getting t
hings prepared and of course Mya had to interrupt again.” Tharissa crossed her arms and scowled at Mya.
“No need to get mad at your sister Tharissa, we will continue our discussions.” King Uridine took a step back and smiled at his sitting daughter who kept glaring at Mya.
“Seems you have returned at an opportune time princess.” The General turned to Mya. “The Darke have no idea you are in the city and would not dare to keep the attack going if they knew you were home. Grinn seems to have not thought of everything all the way through.”
“Our army is well enough trained Cotie but, Grinn is dead.” Mya’s words made the room fall quiet again. No one moved as only waiting for King Uridine’s response, who was in thought.
“This is good news sire.” Cotie broke the silence. “We should make haste and use this to our advantage. Not only do they not know the princess is back but with the head gone, the snake will soon stop slithering.”
“Agreed. Mya, you will need to help the troops. Go with Cotie and help shut out these brutes.” King Uridine stepped forward and put a hand on her shoulder. “Cotie, your army is in place and with the scourge soon to break the gates, we will be ready. Master Turi.” King Uridine turned to the old librarian, “they will need you near the front in the city.”
Turi smiled slightly at his orders and nodded in silent agreement.
“Rocksell, Trimble, you two go with Master Turi and keep that gate as clear as you can. When it is breached, the flood will crash into us with the tsunami of flesh and steel.” General Cotie gave his support their ordered who saluted with a closed fist to their chest and a bow of their head. The three, with their new orders left the stand and made their way toward the entrance to the chamber and disappeared with an echoing slam.
“General, take care of my daughter. Or should I say, Mya take care of Cotie?” Uridine’s chuckle filled the room. Cotie and Mya only shared a glance and rolled their eyes together.
“I will do what I can your majesty. Mya, let’s go.” Cotie motioned with his hand to have Mya lead the way. “The north rampart will be our best bet to take them by surprise, there has been rumours that the Darke have brought their conjurers with them to keep the tide in their favour. The rest of the meager army will be nothing.”
Age of Souls Page 5
