Age of Souls

by Garrett Stevens

  “Is it safe?” She looked over her shoulder with the question.

  “Should be, I doubt there is even fish in there. Dire Lake is just a feeder for the underground river that leads into the mines under Sky Pedestal and comes from up in the Draag Mountains. Should be quite clean as well with the run off.” Faer lifted his head and looked her way as he spoke.

  With a nod to herself, Gemini reached down and pulled off her shirt, exposing her naked skin the left-over sunshine of the day; Faer quickly looked back down at his pyre and fiddled with his sticks. Bending over and unhooked the buckles on her boots, she pulled them off and dropped them to the ground beside her shirt. Before she pushed down her leggings, Gemini looked over her should at Faer.

  “No peeking.”

  Faer nodded in an awkward silence as he shuffled around in his seated position to have his back to her. With a smirk, Gemini slipped off her pants and stepped into the calm water, sending ripples pulsing out with each step. With only a few meters into the water, Gemini’s body fully disappeared into below the surface and only her head could be seen. Her hair trailed behind her like a snake stalking its prey.

  “It’s warm.” Gemini exclaimed.

  Faer glanced out the sides of his eyes to make sure the coast was clear and stretch his back before looking her way. Gemini tilted her head back to wet her whole head, plastering it all to the back of her skull that wanted to stick to any exposed skin that bobbed out of the water.

  Faer watched her float around in a blissful grace, like a leaf resting on a pond, drifting wherever the current desired. He half smiled to himself and nodded with the calming scene before him. This grove was always a gentle place to rest.

  Finally returning to his pyre of sticks, a focused stare at the center, Faer reached out slowly with a relaxed open hand. A small light illuminated the base of the small structure that expanded over to the sides, quickly catching the base of the structure on fire. Letting down his hand he leaned in and gave it a light blow, pushing the fire to the side before popping up to swallow the rest of the pile.

  “You sure are resourceful out on these adventures.”

  Faer snapped out of his trance, moving his gaze from the fire to the girl floating near the edge of the lake.

  “What?” Faer asked.

  “With your fires this week.” Gemini watched him from the waters.

  “Oh.” He looked down at the fire in front of him again. “Thanks.”

  “That why Turi sent you along with Mya on her trip?”

  “Not exactly. She is more than capable to handle anything on her own, especially with the magic side of things. The woman has more tricks up her sleeve than most know. Turi sent me along to get me out of the keep; apparently, I spent too much time in the library.” Faer slid back against one of the boulders and stuck his feet out towards the small fire.

  “Can’t be a book worm forever, you wouldn’t get to hang out with us anymore.” Gemini backpaddled in a circle as she spoke.

  “I would see you two around the castle, it’s not that big of a place.” Faer rest his head against his stone backing and watched the clouds above slowly drift through the darkening blue sky.

  “For how much Mya is out and about, I would be taking on part of the tower divisions shortly; out as an Ambassador, and Tharissa is always up in her tower or with mother. Would be less than you think.” Faer sighed.

  “That is true.” A silence filled the grove again with only the snapping and crackling of the fire and the movement of the waters around Gemini. “Any women in your life?”

  Faer coughed at the question which made Gemini laugh and slap the water.

  “I will take that as maybe.”

  “No, no women. Aside from Mya and yourself.” Faer swallowed through a knot in his throat.

  Gemini laughed again, a little louder. The crackling filled the grove again as Faer tried to think of something new to talk about, change the subject. Gemini kept her gaze on him from the water with a questioning look on her face, as if trying to read his mind, a coy smile on her face.

  The sky was starting to darken slightly with the sun getting close to the top trees, night was getting close. Mya hopped into the grove through a tight break in the brush along the edge of the clearing. Faer was sitting with his back against a boulder with his head resting back, looking up at the sky. Gemini was out in the lake floating on her back; her exposed breasts floating over the water as she paddled around slowly.

  “How long has she been out there?” Mya asked.

  Faer jerked forward being scared by her sneaking up on him.

  “For the love of the Dragons, don’t sneak up on me like that.” Faer grabbed his chest, trying to slow his heart.

  Mya laughed.

  “Almost since you left.” Faer turned toward the lake and then quickly back when he realized that he could see her breasts.

  Mya laughed at his embarrassment.

  “Here, we can have this for dinner.” Mya tossed three rabbits towards the fire.

  “Excellent, I was getting tired of rations.” Faer slid his feet under himself and rocked forward to his knees.

  Reached down, he grabbed their dinner by the rope they were all tied with, lifting them up into the waning light of the day. Nodding, he stood and grabbed a small knife near his bedroll and headed off to the far edge of the grove to prep their meal.

  Mya looked over to the water where Gemini was floating and smiled. With a quick pull of her shirt, she slipped it over her head and dropped it on her bedding. Hopping along to where Gemini’s boots were, she tried to pull off her footwear without unhooking the buckles. With a couple tugs while she hopped, she gave up near the lake edge and unclasp everything to free her feet. Pushing down her leggings and exposing herself to the cool evening air, she slid her naked body into the warm waters.

  “About time you got back.” Gemini stopped her floating at the sound of Mya splashing into the water, rotating herself from on her back to upright and began to tread water.

  “I grabbed something for a meal on the way back; Faer is getting things ready.” Mya swam over to Gemini, trying not to splash her. “He didn’t want to swim?”

  “He looked a little embarrassed to do so.” Gemini laughed and looked over Mya’s shoulder to where Faer was cleaning the rabbits.

  Faer looked across the water from his cleaning spot and smiled at the two girls swimming and laughing at each other. As much as he hated being out on the adventure, it had been a fun start with the two of them; their banter back and forth along the trails, with their playful interactions with each other made him feel more at ease with not being at the palace.

  The laughter carried through the grove as Faer watched Mya splash Gemini in the face and quickly swim away. Chasing her to the edge of the water, Faer had to quickly look away as they came out of the water; he could hear Gemini come out of the water in pursuit. Looking up to make sure the coast was clear to get over to the fire without getting caught seeing their naked forms, Faer shuffled closer to the fire and got the rabbits set on a stick.

  Gemini caught up to Mya and knocked her over into the longer grasses and flowers. Faer could see Mya arms popping out from the grass, swatting away Gemini’s struggle in trying to grab her wrists. Their sounds of laughter made him smile. Gemini sat on her stomach and straddling over her waist to keep her pinned while she tried to tickle her.

  “Get dressed you two, it won’t take long to cook these.” Faer yelled from the side of his mouth in an effort to get their attention; only met with more laughter.

  “Do you concede?” Gemini said in a raised voice.

  “For now. I’m hungry.” Mya’s voice could be heard coming from the two arms raised from the grasses.

  Gemini stood from her seat and let go of Mya’s wrists slowly to keep her hands in a defensive position in case the tickling was retaliated. Mya’s arms disappeared into the greenery as Gemini backed up a couple of steps, her eyes fixed on the woman on the ground. With a smile and a friendly
outstretched hand, Gemini pulled her from the ground.

  “I’m starving.” Mya said, brushing off some leaves stuck to her backside.

  Trying to keep his eyes on his task and not at the bare women wandering around behind him, Faer fidgeted with their dinner. Each spit was long enough to be able to sit back and cook at a distance. He could hear the two girls getting their clothes on nearby and strained to keep his attention at the crackling blaze in front of him as he knew he would get caught if he stole a peek.

  “Tomorrow we will have to split up.” Gemini was the first to come into his line of sight, her pants not fully done up and her shirt had balled up against her wet back, exposing her stomach. Faer struggled to keep his attention on the fire and food.

  “Unfortunately, we do; I need to head to Sky Pedestal before heading onto Colde.” Mya followed close behind, wiggling her way into her own shirt. “You two going to be ok together out here?”

  Gemini laughed as she sat down on her bedroll.

  “We should be fine; Gemini is scarier than most things out here.” Faer chuckled to himself as he spoke.

  “Hey!” Gemini exclaimed.

  “I mean that in the nicest way, you’re very good in a fight; aside from the disposition.” Faer looked her way and smiled, which was greeted by a scolding smirk and a stuck-out tongue.

  “Suppose I am the brawn in this relationship then.” Gemini spoke through her sly smile.

  “Getting up to the lookout at the top of the falls should be a short trip, but past that is so unknown, I am fearful of what we might find or even how to get there.” Faer played with rabbits cooking over the fire as he spoke.

  “What all did Shershin tell you?” Gemini asked.

  “Once we are at the top of the falls, the assumption is that we need to drink the tonic and then the path will become clear to us. She just mentioned that we will know when to use it.”

  “I’ve been to the viewpoint and there isn’t anything up there but more falls. As far as I am aware and know of, Dire Straight is unreachable.” Mya grabbed her own rabbit and spun it in the lapping flames.

  The three sat in silence, watching their dinner roasting above the flickering flames and watching as the night took over the day. The skin on the baking animals became a nice light brown as it spun on their cooking sticks, sweating with each turn. Crickets and the odd brushing of trees blowing in the wind broke through the sounds of the campfire. Stars slowly twinkled on with the moonlight starting to rise over the far horizon, its reflection off the small mirroring lake was beautiful. The odd insect interrupting the deathly stillness, landing on the water, ripples quickly fading back to the mirror.

  “Any idea what the Barbarians are going to be like?” Faer broke the silence of the grove, pulling his dinner from the fire.

  “I met their Shaman, Thron-din when I was little; he was old and scary from what I remember.” Mya spoke through mouthfuls of meat she peeled off her stick with a small knife.

  “And he would still be alive?” Faer raised an eyebrow in question.

  “Apparently, the Barbarian shamans are blessed with elven lifespans by the Gods; that blessing would be then passed on to their successor in which the previous Shaman would instantly perish.”

  “That’s a bad draw if you ask me.” Gemini cut in with a mouthful of food.

  “No worse than what we have. From what I hear, they have built their home into a gigantic glacier; everything made of ice.” Faer choked against a mouthful of meat.

  “Would be cold on the privates, might make for interesting foreplay though.” The two girls laughed at Faer’s embarrassed expression as he choked further on his mouthful of rabbit.

  The night’s air filled with their conversation as the fire snapped and crackled, giving its own thoughts on the matters being discussed. The jovial back and forth brought the odd laugh, mostly picking on Faer as they all finished their dinner. Each commenting on being stuffed and needing to rest, tossed their roasting spit into the fire before slipping onto the bedrolls.

  The grove finally gave up to the night and became the stillness of a crypt. The three bodies sprawled out on their bedrolls, sated with their dinner, lay still with the campfire getting lower and lower. Finally burning into low red coals, the glowing red heart of the fire latched on to its last life before completely disappearing into the trail of smoke; the night had finally won the battle.

  Overlooking the frozen waters of the lake, three hooded hulks shadowed against the darkness, peering into the clearing. Never moving, only watching as their tattered cloaks subtly waved against a light breeze. A shadowed mist seemed to melt off their outline, like fog rolling down a mountain.

  • • •

  Gemini stood on the edge of a small body of water, the mists from the roaring falls engulfing her in waves. Holding two strange swords, their points resting against the ground as she hung her head, hair matted down with the moisture. Her whole body, as well as the swords had blood covering them. Each wave of mist from the falls made the blood run down her into a red pool at her feet.

  After a big blow of the waters, a corpse could be made out at her feet. Mya slowly stepped closer, snapping her eyes from her sister to the body in front of her. With the next wave of mists from the falls fading back, the body came into focus. Its face was turned the other way, but the body looked to be male. Gemini used the side of one of her switch back blades and pushed against the side of the corpses face to turn it towards her.

  Faer.

  Gemini never spoke, her gaze remaining on his corpse. Her wet hair trying to flow in the winds of the torrent pushing against her from the falls, hiding her blank, dark expression from time to time. Mya couldn’t speak, couldn’t move at all; what had she done. Another wave of mist from the falls, Gemini slowly panned her gaze up into the sky and closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. Opening her eyes in an exhale, she pivoted her head towards Mya and gave her an evil glare. The darkness in her eyes brought tears flooding forward that quickly were engulfed by the brume that took over. Before she could open her mouth to attempt in saying something again, Gemini spun quickly and launched forward in attack. Raising one of her weapons, the blade quickly came down towards her face.

  Mya’s eyes shot open and she jolted upright from her bedroll. Her clothes were soaked with sweat as she panted, trying to catch her breath. Looking over at Faer who was having a suspicious dream with the size of his smile. Still alive. Still at peace. Gemini rolled over in her sleep towards her, she too looked at peace in her sleep.

  Only a dream.

  Darkness of the grove carried the same feeling from Mirror Lake, a sense of death, a sense that they were not in the world of the living, a tomb of their own. The stillness of the lake mocked her with its glimmer against the starlit sky above. An uneasiness filled her, something was wrong, something did not feel right, something was watching.

  She looked around, scanning the edges of the clearing through the darkness in hopes to find anything out of the ordinary. Her elven eyes were keen but still quite difficult to make out even the difference between the undergrowth and trees themselves. For such a clear night, it was inauspiciously dark. The air felt heavy again, like in the lower tunnels of the palace; death had found them.

  From the far side of the clearing the shadows moved unnatural and could barely be seen shifting from the lip of the grove, moving quickly towards the camp. Mya flipped off her blanket and hopped up to the balls of her feet, uttering an incantation and rolling her hands and fingers like she was playing with a small ball. Blue balls of fire grew in her hands, illuminating the ground around her. The hulking shadow was closing fast, she had to be ready. Before she knew it, it was at the edge of the camp and almost on her. Its cloak was darker than the night and looked in tatters, ripped from time itself. It was the same as the attacker from the palace.

  With a flick of her wrist, one of the fireballs shot forward with a streak towards the assailant, making it quickly change direction and slowing its course. Qui
ckly following was the other, connecting mid torso, it was sent whirling backwards to the ground. No sounds of pain or injury could be heard, just the soft smack of the magic connecting with something solid; a sort of whip cracking. The others did not wake and must have been in a deep slumber.

  The creature was back on its feet before she could regain her focus. She wasted too much time checking on the others. She needed to get some space between it and her. At great speed, she pushed off in the opposite direction and headed into the clearing of grasses, the tall blades whipping at her pantlegs. Dew from the night collected on her legs, soaking them with moisture as she ran. Keeping her hands moving to grow another set of fireballs, she kept her eyes on the pursuant which was quickly gaining on her. It was fast; unnaturally fast.

  Just before she felt it about to overtake her, she rolled to the ground, forcing it to lunge over her in a wild attempt to ensnare her in its claws. The two small balls of fire she had cooking in her palms shot toward the beast, both connecting mid mass again, sending it whirling higher into the air and plummeting back to the ground in a heap. Mya kept her hands moving still, building another pair of blue flames as she slowly approached her assailant. The body lay still on the ground.

  “Meidrae, raptruks duu Furhdrae.” Its reptilian voice sounded like it was having troubles talking.

  She did not respond.

  “Meidrae. Raptruks, duu.” It tried to finish before the tombs silence filled the grove again. It did not finish what it was saying.

  Mya kept her distance, trying to study the hulking shadow against the night. She could barely make out that it was still breathing. The subtle rise and fall of its cloak couldn’t be seen at all, it just stood there, watching her.

  “Who are you?” Mya spoke softly.

  Nothing.

  “Why are you following me?”

  Nothing.

  “Why are you attacking me?” Her words were answered with more silence.

  The beast shuffled slowly to the side. Reaching out with its arm, a claw filled hand exposed itself from the shadow, its claws reflecting the light from the moon. Before it could return its arm to its body, Mya let loose the last two fireballs from her palms. With another double crack of the whip, the glowing blue fire erupted against the shadowy form and faded into the night once more. The body of the shadowed hulk recoiled in a silent pain and doubled over, for what she could make out was it dying.