Age of Souls

by Garrett Stevens

  “By Necrolin, he was just about to give something away.” General Cotie turned to her and sheathed his swords.

  “Who?”

  “Mordain.”

  “He was supposed to be in prison, how is he here?” Mya peered over the edge of the wall to see what was left. “The Barbarians had him.”

  Mordain stood next to the cart starring up at them.

  “They were supposed to keep him after I captured him. Not sure why I didn’t just kill him.” General Cotie looked down at the Elven man.

  “With the summoning broken, they will need us at the gate. Forget him, there are larger issues to deal with.” Mya motioned with her head to start moving.

  “Took me years to track him down and capture him.” General Cotie frustratingly sighed and followed after Mya.

  “My father will likely be down in the plaza after that blast. We need to get there fast and prep before the Gurge enters the city.” Mya called back over her shoulder as they ran back towards a tower to find some stairs.

  • • •

  “Shershin, where are you hiding?” Faer poked his head around the corner of one of the shelves containing all sorts of vials and cut off animal parts, or the odd jar with what could only have been from the inside of something living. Looking both directions, like he was crossing a busy road, he scanned all around the small room for the Apothecary.

  The room may have been small but was so full of anything you could dream of to make potions or brews. It was a sight that a mad scientist would dream over. Strange liquids in beakers, skulls, or body parts would make it easy to bring life to a chimera or homunculus. There was a tattered drapery hanging in a small alcove off to the right, behind an aging chair that looked to be an old throne. Beside the chair was a small table that held a single candle and a cup of what he hoped was tea.

  “Be still boy, before you spill something again.” A sultry woman’s voice came from behind the tattered cloth door.

  “The king mentioned that you were looking for me, did you not know I was away?” Faer took a step out from behind the shelving to be more in the center of the room and stood up straight.

  “No one mentioned anything to me. Stay right there, just need to grab this.” A curvy woman’s body started to back out of the alcove, hunched over slightly like an elderly woman waddling her way along. She was carrying something in a deep silver saucer. Faer could only stand still, waiting for her to make her way to get into a clear space.

  Finally, fully free from her hiding place, Shershin turned and stood tall with her bowl like dish in hand. She was a fair bit taller than he, with very long silvery white hair which shimmered slightly in what sunlight was able to break through the window through the clouds of war outside.

  Her long black dress was very tight, showing off her flowing figure and showcased her large breasts that were almost fully exposed from a long low slit in the front. She wore a large opal looking item on a long gold chain that hung between her breasts that glistened like her hair, it almost looked like a third eye, watching everything. Her face was quite young looking, surprisingly young for how old he knew she was, her grey eyes didn’t even give that fact away.

  “Now you are here, give me a hand.” Shershin pushed forward the item she was holding which Faer jerked forward to grab. “Careful dammit, don’t drop it.” Her sultry voice was hard to take seriously with such an aggressive tone.

  “What do you need with it?” Faer looked down into the saucer to find a brownish liquid that had a thin haze of black fog moving around on the surface.

  “It’s liquid Mandur brain, we need it for why you are here. Put it over there.” She pointed toward an empty spot on a nearby half shelf.

  Backing up to her chair and flopping down with a huff, she watched as Faer carefully placed it down, trying hard not to disturb the liquid.

  “Now show me the item.” Shershin cupped her hands in her lap as she sat tall.

  “How did…?” Faer turned back to the Apothecary with a quizzical look on his face.

  “You still don’t get it child. To be my age and not hear things, know things, learn to know the workings of the worlds. I may be just an Apothecary, but my magic might be on par with that old mage of a librarian.” She chuckled and crossed her arms across her stomach and lifted her breasts slightly as she rested against the back of the throne.

  “Here.” Faer reached into his inside pocket and pulled out the small black urn.

  “By Necrolin himself, it is. This means.” Shershin trailed off and stare at Faer like she was looking right through him. “They will be looking for the other three then.”

  Shershin closed her eyes and rested her head against the back of the chair.

  “Why would this be so special, it’s just an urn.” Faer twirled the item back and forth in his palm trying to find a significance. The urn’s shape had no markings on it, no special symbols or colouring, just a pitch-black empty container.

  “Necrolin’s cup is an artifact from the Dragon Realm, the City of Necrolis, his very keep. We call it a ‘cup’ because it is the item in which the Dragon syphons souls from our world being ferried into his and ‘drinks’ their life force to power his magic.” Faer’s eyes widened in fear as he looked at the relic and slowly placed it on the shelf next to the silver bowl.

  “I have been carrying that thing for more than two months, it could have killed me.” Taking a step back he kept his eyes on the relic.

  Shershin boastfully laughed.

  “Nonsense child.” Her mocking tone filled the room. “It only has power in our world when paired with Incinolin’s wing, Freyolin’s mask and the Spiri relic of The Mother. Right now, it is just was we call it, a cup.” Shershin stood from her throne and walked over to grab the relic.

  “Then why would you be asking for me in knowing I had something special in my possession?”

  “Ah, the real question.” She turned to face Faer who found himself awkwardly close to being face to face with her chest and not being able to hide his blushing face, he took a step back.

  She chuckled again. “Oh, grow up.”

  “You didn’t answer my question.” Faer said with a rosy face.

  “You may have a larger part in this than you think. I know your father wanted you to help with his research in the vaults, but I need you to take the other daughter with you on this one. She will be needed.” Shershin walked back over to her chair and sat back in it, still holding Necrolin’s Cup.

  “Take her with me, where?” Faer turned with her as she moved.

  “Far up into the Draag Mountains. There is a small pathway just behind the Uridine province gate, up near the falls. Do you know of the look out?”

  Faer nodded.

  “It’s just a traveler camping spot with a good vantage of Sky Pedestal and the plains. I have been there as a child when Turi took me up there. A dead end beyond that.”

  “True it is a resting point but there above the falls is another path, one that leads deep into the northern region, closer to the Nethershade. You must take the relic into the region and the rest will become clear when you are there. I can’t see beyond the falls, but I was able to make out yourself and Gemini.” Shershin placed the relic on the table beside her saucer and grabbed her drink to take a sip.

  “I’m tired of all this adventuring, why can’t I just stay in the keep and do the reading and research I should be doing?” Faer looked up at the ceiling in frustration.

  “There is more to this than you know Faer, more than your silly little research.” Standing up with her drink, she walked over to the silver saucer next to Faer. “This mixture is special, you will need it in your journey.”

  “What makes it special?” Faer gave her a side glance.

  “It will allow you to see the way beyond life and death, beyond that requires the vision of a mortal.”

  “Why do you always have to talk in riddles?” Faer placed his hands on his hips.

  Shershin spun around to face him again, alm
ost connecting her breasts against his face and bringing back his embarrassment. Laughing down at him once again, she placed a hand on his shoulder.

  “I wouldn’t be a mystic if I didn’t.” Her soft sultry voice had a jovial tone to it that made him get redder.

  “Apothecary’s are not mystics.” Faer raised an eyebrow at her.

  “Ha! Just a clever name to not scare off the children.” She ruffled his hair and spun back to her chair.

  Shershin grabbed a small vial from beside her throne and back to the silver saucer. Expertly pouring the liquid into the small opening, she thumbed on a cork stopper without spilling a drop. The vial was the perfect size to hold all the liquid, no larger than her thumb. The stopper was tied to a leather strap that she wrapped around her finger before shaking it vigorously a few times. The brown liquid inside quickly turned a deep blue and sparkled with bursts of what looked like little fireflies fluttering over a moonlit pond.

  “What am I supposed to do with it?” Faer kept his eyes on the small vial.

  “You will know when you need to, but it’s a tonic. You drink it.” Shershin dangled the vial by two fingers in an outstretched hand towards him.

  “You seriously want me to drink Mandur brain? It’s dirtier than a Scridule” Faer took the vial from her slowly. His disgusted twist of his face was met by another laugh.

  “There is more in there than just the brain. Don’t worry, it tastes like cherries.” Shershin slapped him on his backside. “Now go find the girl and get going already.”

  The tall woman slinked her way back to her chain and began sipping her drink.

  “You do know there is a war going on outside, and you’re just sitting here drinking tea?” Faer hooked the strap of the vial over his head like a necklace and tucked the vial under his tunic.

  “Yes yes. Your father and that pretty little princess will handle that.” She didn’t look up from her cup as her waved him away with the back of her hand.

  “Where is Gemini anyway?” Faer asked as he head towards the door.

  “She should be down near the armoury. Always training that one, couldn’t for the life of me get her into the tower for a spell. Magic is not liked by that one.” Shershin smirked slightly between sips. “Why are you still here boy, get going already!”

  Faer rolled his eyes and sighed in a huff before spinning on his heals. His cloak spun past him nearly knocking over Necrolin’s Cup and a small rack of rainbow coloured liquids.

  “Hey boy, take the damn relic with you.”

  Faer stopped in his tracks and reached back to try and grab it. Being just out of his reach, he had to hop on one foot to get closer before his fingers touched it; obviously not wanting to be in there any longer than he had to was met with a silence shake of the busty woman sitting in her chair. With a quick snag, he quickly slid it into the hiding pocket of his pack and closed the door behind him.

  “Trouble will follow that one. Suppose I could have told him the rest of the vision, but then he probably would have never left.” Looking down into her cup, she took another sip of the warm liquid and starred at the closed door with a concerned curiosity.

  • • •

  “General.” Mya exclaimed as she pointed down into the city below.

  General Cotie followed her finger as they ran above a small gathering of Uridine Elves battling a group of Darke Elves mixed with a handful of orcs and goblins. General Cotie spotted Bravin and the King within the troops and cocked his head in question.

  “Bravin and your father are accomplished fighters your highness, I have trained with them personally.” General Cotie was close behind her as they ran along the rampart toward the tower.

  As they got to the bottom of the rampart stair, the group they spotted had significantly fewer Darke forces. The opposing factions were definitely not as skilled in combat as the leaders of Uridine. General Cotie and Mya reached the small group as the last goblin fell.

  “Mya!” The King held a tone of elevated surprise and relief in his voice.

  “Unfortunately, were not fast enough to stop the full spell from the conjurers.” Mya said as they approached the tired looking group.

  “That should give the rest of the fighters a little bit of a break. I don’t think they would have been ready for that torment. Were you able to find Turi out at the gate?” King Uridine pulled his blade out from the chest of an orc.

  Mya shook her head.

  “He should be down with Rocksell and Trimble, dealing with the trolls.” General Cotie looked around at the scene as he spoke. “We should probably give him a hand. With that first blast at the plaza, the Darke would have easily pushed further into the city.”

  “He’s right your Highness.” Bravin cleaned his blade on a dead orc as he spoke. “Too much time has gone by, that Gurge will be pushing in the front gate while the Darkemine sneak their way up to the palace.” His concern was met with a circle of nods.

  “Mya, find Turi and end this. Your sister will be almost ready, which means there won’t be a lot of time before the losses start adding up.” King Uridine stepped forward and placed a hand on his daughters’ shoulder.

  “Bravin, come with us. We may need your help to find Rocksell and Trimble before they get into too much trouble. Your highness, head back to the palace with your guard; secure up the palace before those trolls get themselves into places they shouldn’t and prepare for the Darkemine.” General Cotie spoke with authority, perking everyone up to attention. His orders were met with salutes by the troops listening in and a nod from the King.

  “Be careful my dear.” The King kissed Mya’s forehead and waved over his troops before heading down the street. Their departure was a little slow with trying to scale over the amount of bodies that littered the ground.

  “We should get on the move too, before more of the bastards come this way.” General Cotie turned towards the main gate.

  “I knew this truce was never going to last long between Uridine and Darke. The lands were too quiet for things not to go wrong.” Bravin shook his head and sheathed his sword as he spoke. “We may be the same race, but Lord Baldur and his ideology of rule would never have worked with the people of Uridine. One of the reasons he left to begin with. The goblins and orcs needed that heavy hand to be able to lean on for their leadership.”

  “That’s true, but surely the Darke lands; being all marsh and forest would have been better left to the hordes that made it home. So uncivilized.” General Cotie chuckled as he spoke.

  “Focus you two. Better things to hold our attention before we get to the gate. As father mentioned, we should hurry before Tharissa is ready.” Mya scolded them before pushing off into a jog down the main street.

  Both men looked at each other with a shrug before chasing after Mya.

  The street was oddly quiet for being on the fringe of a war going on. Only the odd clash could be heard now and again, the odd blast from a spell, or the odd roar from some inhuman beast. The black smoke had expanded beyond the walls of the city and now connected to the face of the back mountains, draining even more light from the sky. It seemed to have a life of its own and swallow any clean air around it with the ominous colouring. Death’s embrace was engulfing the beautiful green city.

  • • •

  “Are you ready Tharissa, do you need anything?” The Queen was leaning against the open door, watching the empty room.

  The space was large and round with very little in it. A massive blue rug which covered the majority of the space had no interior embroidery but did carry a thin gold fringe. The colouring in the rug made it look like a pond had cut into a rocky mountain bluff and froze.

  On the sides of the room had the odd chair or table with little on them; a book here or there, a cup or quill but nothing to be considered cluttered. On the far side from the Queen, a small ledge sat below a window in an alcove with a decorative bed resting behind a sheer white sheet.

  “This takes time Mother. I have to do everything myself.” Tharissa
’s annoyed voice echoed into the room from a hidden closet to the left of the entry.

  “No need to be rude.” Pushing herself from the wooden gate as her daughter came into the room, the Queen smiled.

  “Unfortunately, I was the one with this luxury, too bad Mya couldn’t have had it as well.” Tharissa strolled without looking at her mother near the middle of the room.

  “Don’t take that tone young lady, we are lucky enough to have been blessed by Eirolin. No other can boast that claim in over ten thousand years.” Rosen put her hands on her hips.

  “I don’t care, there has to be more to this than a damn ritual I do every time Mya gets into trouble.” Tharissa snapped back.

  “It is not just her down there; she is helping the rest of our people so that we have as little loss as we can. You give them the hope, the courage that makes their troubles not be in vain.”

  Tharissa stopped her path near in the middle of the room and looked over at the Queen with a frustrated face.

  “You can’t be in here while it’s happening.” Tharissa’s voice became a lot more serious.

  “I know. Be careful my daughter.” The queen walked over to her daughter and hugged her. “Something feels different.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I am not sure exactly.” The Queen held her embrace.

  “Maybe I am losing my gift?”

  “Don’t put that out into the world.” Pushing away, the Queen grabbed Tharissa’s shoulders and squeezed.

  “Someone has to say it. It could be true.” The room filled with a silence. “Alright mother, let me work.”

  “Remember, I will be just outside the door, as always.” Tharissa nodded to her mother’s concern and backed out of her grasp. The Queen started to make her way back to the entry.

  “And you remember. Do not come in until everything is done. No matter what.” Tharissa spoke with a stern voice making her mother stop in her tracks to look back over her shoulder and nod. The door closed with an echo that followed the Queen, who did not look back.

  Tharissa took her final steps to the middle of the room and hung her head with a sigh. Closing her eyes with a shake of her head, she knew it was for her people but hated having the knowledge of what was to come. Lifting her head and looking toward her bed window, the clean line of the mountain peaks could be seen over the haze of black smoke, a subtle uplifting sight. With a final heavy breath, she reached down and pulled her dress up and over her head, tossing it to the side and on to her bed.