Dominic looked back at Kallis, who was still on her knees, and walked over to the door Seraph was waiting by. He had pushed it open whilst still standing in the main room. With a long sigh, Dominic shuffled over to the open door and stepped through with Seraph close behind, leaving the lingering sorrow behind him.
Beyond the door was an antechamber, only a little wider than the door that had a secondary arch entry leading into a long corridor that looked like it went on forever. Weapons of all shapes and sizes littered racks or were leaning against the wall without. The odd cuirass, full suite of armour, grinding wheel, or anvil broke up the array of equipment.
“What you’re after is in the back alcove.” Seraph waved him on with his head and started down the path between the racks.
A short walk brought them to a small break in the wall, too small for them to comfortably get through; most likely built by a Gnome or a Dwarf. Jingling of keys sounded through the expansive corridor as Seraph rifled through a keyring and found an odd shaped key. It looked like it could have been a spyglass mixed with a crudely crumpled pieces of slag. Reaching out with the key in hand, it was pushed against something with resistance and a brief shimmer waved through the opening.
“Should be safe now.” Seraph whirled the keyring around with a finger and took a step back.
There were a few thin tables on the edges of the small alcove, each holding a small collection of delicate and ornate looking tools or weapons. A few items had a glowing aura about them that illumined the room around them, others looked like the blade the Coral wielded; a small light stripe on the blade edge. One weapon stood out from the others, being the largest in the room.
An odd-looking set of swords that had the same light strip along the blade, but coloured different than the white on Coral’s sword; a deep ruby red pulsed. A khopesh like blade that had a wider blade, close to fifteen centimeters at the widest which lined all the way down, bumped out and past the hilt like it forgot it needed to stop and bridged across the handle before returning below the base of the hilt with a small hook returned back up the other side. A small clip at the bottom of both weapons hooked onto each other with a small gold chain between them. Picking the weapon up, the chain remained stiff to create a staff like strength to the entire structure.
Seraph pointed at the red glowing scythe weapons and then over to a small pair of knuckle type weapons which caught Dominic’s eye. A simple design on the knuckles aside from a beautiful language engraved across the front and longer black blades, something easily held against the wielders forearm that would barely extend past their elbow.
“Remember you used those before, have that ability to spin them up front or back to suit your needs.” Seraph grumbled through his comments.
Without another thought, Dominic grabbed the knuckle weapons together in one hand and the khopesh blade like staff in the other. The ticking of the steel together echoed through the hallway as the two warriors made their way back to the main room.
“What are you going to do with everything else?” Dominic questioned the smoking old man as he entered the room.
“With my security compromised in Tulcarna, I will like retire back to the homeland and leave a few of my agents here until things quiet down. The relics will come with me, the others will likely be sold.” Xen’s voice sounded faster than normal.
Dominic nodded at Mya and Chyla who had made their way back into the room and were sitting in a pair of chairs off to the right side of Xen. Their new outfits made them look like true travelers and almost like they were the same person.
Thick dark grey cloaks with hoods tied together at the neck covered their tight leather shirts and pants. Skin could be seen on the sides of their bodies from bottom of leg to top of shoulder with straps stitching together from and back of the leather. Low cut shirts exposed their cleavage and much of the rest of the chest but closed in over the shoulders. Thin belts looped their way around their wastes and carried a small dagger to one side. High strapped boots buckled together looked like they could be an extension of their leggings. The only difference between the two at this distance was their hair colour.
“Got you something Chyla.” Dominic held out the scythe khopesh blades towards her.
Smiling, Chyla popped out of her chair and trotted over to him to inspect her present.
“They clip together like the one you were training with.”
“Thanks Dominic.” Holding them out in front of her, Chyla spun them in her hand and flipped them up to the ready. “They are lighter than I am used to. Why are they glowing?”
“They are infused with magic little one.” Xen had stood without anyone knowing and stood close to them. “Made by the Gnomes with a special oil and enchanted.”
“What kind of magic?” Chyla rotated the sword in her right hand back and forth to examine each side. The longer she held them, the more intense the colouring became. They started to bleed out black and red in a light mist.
“These ones were with a chaos magic, a very strong chaos magic.” Xen trailed off into thought.
The room fell silent.
“Oh. Kay.” Chyla slowly said.
“I’ll go get changed and the bags.” Dominic put his knuckle weapons on a nearby table and walked over to Kallis who had moved to a chair against the wall next to her brothers’ body. Kneeling down on one knee, Dominic looked up at her tear stained face and placed a hand on her knee.
“I will be ok. Sooner or later it was going to be him or I. We have been having too much luck in life and have been talking about this day for some time. Can’t believe it was today though.” Her voice was calm and soft.
Dominic squeezed her leg and stood slowly before glancing over at Seraph. He picked at his shirt like he was trying to grab a loose crumb. His voiceless question was answered with a pointed finger toward the door closest to him. A subtle nod and he disappeared through the door.
“Will that be everything you need Mya?” Chyla asked. “It’s only a small knife.”
“I should be fine with the dagger.”
“You may take anything you need from our armoury.” Xen spoke through his haze of smoke.
“Gone through pretty difficult times with less, thank you though.” Mya nodded towards the old man. “Did not look like there was much else there. You don’t get many women through here, do you?”
Xen ignored the question with a puff from his pipe.
“But now we look like twins.” Chyla laughed through her own words. “These things are seriously easy to handle.” Chyla spun the blades around beside her. “Has been almost a year since I put the old ones away.”
Spinning the blades back and forth, faster and faster, Chyla began to almost dance in place. With each rotation of the staff, she looked like she could be directing a parade. Each raise of the steel over her head and around her body, her expertise was flawless with the weapon. A final flourish brought the tip of one end of the weapon in a downward thrust, stopping close to the ground. Little sparks of red and black burst out from the sharp edge and scattered across the ground before fading.
The sound of clapping came from Xen’s chair.
“Many years of training with these. My father forced me to use them and I really hated them when I was younger. It’s kind of fun now.” Chyla pulled the tip of the bladed staff up and twisted the hilts away from each other, disconnecting them at the stiff chain. “Is there a holster for it?”
Xen nodded and Seraph disappeared behind the armoury door. Shortly he reappeared with two thick leather straps with leather hoops mid-way around. He tossed them at her gently so she could snag them out of the air without dropping the two swords. The door Dominic left through slammed closed again.
“Thanks for everything Xen, we should get going.” Dominic called out from as he entered back into the room.
His new clothes were plain looking, slightly loose-fitting shirt and trousers held together with a thick black belt. Forearm guards were strapped to his arms that flickered bac
k against the torches and candles. The same dark grey cloak that the girls wore was tied around his neck. Three backpacks were clenched in his hands that he dropped beside the door as he closed it behind him.
“We are almost square Deadwick, I hope to not see you for some time.” Xen laughed to himself.
“Seeing as we are heading up to the Iceclaws, would you like us to take a look into this Sliver fellow?” Dominic peered at the old man through the sides of his eyes.
“Still looking for ways to have me owe you more favours?” Xen frowned.
“Never in a million years.”
They both laughed together.
“If he has not been alerted to my intentions and moved. It will help things along if you’re in the area. I am sure Kallis would want to say hello to the man.” Xen stretched up from his pillow.
“Then we best be off. We can stop in Strazen to get cleaned up before getting to the North Gate.” Dominic had a positivity in his voice that lifted the deathly sorrow slightly.
“His place smells funny, and there are too many books.” Chyla slumped down in a huff.
“We will need a good place to sleep before heading into the forest. You had fun last time we were there.” Dominic picked up a backpack and slung it over his shoulders.
“Only because I can entertain myself, but I’m not in the mood for some reason.” Chyla put her hand over her stomach again and looked at herself.
Dominic gave her a sideways look and then eyeballed over to Mya.
“A house full of books. Are you talking about R’nuuk?” Kallis stood from her chair and crossed her arms under her breasts as if she was throwing a tantrum.
“Yes.” Chyla fidgeted with the straps for her new weapons.
“He’s a good man, will be good to see him again.” Kallis walked over and grabbed the other two bags to carry them over to Mya and Chyla.
“That mean you are coming with us?” Dominic asked her as she passed by.
“Can’t let this hiccup beat me down Darling. Plus, I want to chat with the little one.” Kallis gave Chyla a wink.
“Thanks.” Mya took one of the bags and slung it over her shoulders, bouncing it into place.
Chyla grabbed the other and did the same but shimmied against it.
“Going to be just over a day to get there, unless we are light on our feet, and we might be able to get there before night fall tomorrow.” Dominic held his voice loudly to make sure everyone was listening.
Chyla sighed but gave Mya a friendly smile that was reciprocated. Kallis nodded and shifted her boxed bow on the back of her waist. Cirna, who had been sitting by the girls’ clothing room, tossed her a dark grey cloak which she quickly flipped around and tied around her neck. Mya bounced her backpack on her back again, shifting her cloak below it as she did.
Dominic faced each of the girls with a nod and turned to the main arched doorway leading back into the main throne room. Walking towards it with heavy steps, Dominic stopped to the side of the opening and let the three-woman funnel through before him.
“Until next time old man.” Dominic called out to the old man puffing on his pipe with a raised hand.
“Always entertaining Deadwick.” Xen raised his hand in farewell.
Chapter 18
Sunlight slowly made its way across the mountain peaks like someone painting a new colour on their canvas. The morning sun streamed along them into the valley, bringing new life to what use to be the scene of carnage and war. Pieces of the city walls were still covered in scaffolding and tents from the Darke invaders still to be removed. Uridine was rebuilding quickly but there was still a lot to do. With the first light finally rising over the shortest peak, the sun tickled its way through Tharissa’s window and across her face. With a flicker of her eyelids and a groggy wake up, she knew that there would be a visitor soon.
Reaching out from her resting position, she slowly pulled the curtain over at the edge of her bed to the side and took in the full warmth of the morning. A long slow set of breathing to wake up, she looked out over the city and watched as it came to life. Merchants starting to set up their stalls while workers got their carts set up for city repairs. Soldiers changing their posts while others still rest in their beds, unaffected by the suns waking glow.
A knock at the door. Right on que.
“Tharissa, are you awake?” The sound of her mother’s voice came from behind her closed door.
The large circular carpet lured her in with the pattern, her eyes were drawn to it like a moving sea. Everything else in her room sat sleeping in the shadows against the walls. They would be awaking soon with the commotion that would soon enter.
“Tharissa?” Rose pushed her head through a small opening she created. “Good.” The queen nodded to herself before pushing the rest of her body through the opening. Her flowing dress almost being snagged by it as it closed behind her.
“I’m hungry mother.” Tharissa whispered out through her still sleeping lips.
“I will get someone to bring you something to eat. How are you feeling today?” The Queen sat down on the edge of her bed and placed her palm on the side of her face.
“Weak.” Tharissa kept her eyes out the window. “Has there been any word from Mya or Gemini?”
“Nothing yet dear.”
Tharissa sighed quietly.
“I will get Turi to come check on you again.” The Queen sat still looking at her for a moment, and then stood to leave.
“Could you tell him to bring the book again?” Tharissa slowly rolled over with an obvious look of strain in her face.
Looking back over her shoulder, she responded with a nod.
Watching as her mother left the room, she sighed again. With her hands on the bed, Tharissa pushed from the blankets and pulled herself up the wall of the alcove so she could lean against it with her legs stretched in front of her. Sighing again, she rolled her head to stare at the door to her room and then back to the ceiling above her. Closing her eyes, she rest her head against the green hued stones and took a deep breath after a deep breath. Constant breathing calmed her mind into a meditative relaxation and the morning light disappeared from around her as a blackness filled in around her.
Flashing her eyes open, a young girl stood before her in the void. They were the only two in the dark. The air was heavy as they just floated, starring at each other. The girl was dressed in a very ornately designed dress that was covered in tiny diamonds and rare gems twinkling against a light that wasn’t there. Her hair was oddly braided around her head with little diamonds sparkling in all the small crevices. She was very pretty and looked like she took very meticulous care about her appearance.
“Again child?” The little girls voice was sweet but very mature.
“I’m tired of this Eirolin, how long do we need to keep up this charade?” Tharissa annoyed with having to ask.
“I told you before; until the rest are where they need to be and then we can leave.” Eirolin’s tone stayed the same, sweet and caring.
“How long can you keep the ward from Turi before he starts to catch on?”
“That will not be a problem, but that book is required before we can leave.” Eirolin’s voice was calming in the dark. “Be ready child. He comes.”
Tharissa blinked slowly and she opened her eyes to the sunshine beaming around her again. The city below was full of hustle now with everyone in full swing of their day. With another heavy bored sigh, Tharissa glanced over at the bedroom door again, waiting.
A few minutes passed before a gentle knock sounded through the room.
“Good morning princess.” Turi stepped through the entry with a small book clutched against his chest. Silence carried with the old mage from the entry to her bed side.
“Thank you for bringing the book again.” Tharissa lightly wheezed out her words.
Turi nodded and smiled.
“Could you leave it with me this time?”
“Of course child.” Turi placed the book next to her and held u
p his hands. Muttering a few words, the edgings of his fingers sparkled with electricity. “Are you ready?”
Tharissa slowly nodded.
Grabbing her upper arm, Turi placed his other hand against the middle of her chest and closed his eyes. A small shock jolted her body away from the wall and her eyes shocked open.
“That should be enough until midday.” Turi helped her back to the way and let her go.
“Thanks.” Tharissa rest her head back against the wall and slowly rolled her head to look at him.
“As before, give it a moment to get into the rest of your body before you move.”
Tharissa nodded through another knock at the door.
“Sounds like your food is here. I will leave you for now and see you at midday.” Turi stood from her bed and left in silence.
A young boy dressed in an apron holding a steaming bowl entered the room as Turi left and briskly walked across the room. He was very shy to be in the room with the princess and his red face got darker when he got closer to her bed. Extending the bowl out to her, he couldn’t look at her and kept his eyes to the side.
Tharissa took the bowl from the boy. “Thank you Tohmin.”
He looked up at her and smiled before he ran from the room. Tharissa smiled as she watched him exit her room and shook her head at his youthful embarrassment. The bowl was warm to the touch and the broth inside steamed into her face. Smelling the aroma through the steam floating up from her food, she smiled and grabbed the spoon Tohmin had left on the blankets.
• • •
“Grab that, we need it.” A soot covered blacksmith pointed towards a small clay jar on a nearby shelf.
Breen grabbed the jar and walked it over the man who held his mallet against a red-hot sword. Taking it from her, he popped the cork in the top and poured a lightly yellowed liquid onto the length of steel on his anvil. As the drops hit the glow, sparks of fire mixed with an electric crackle bounced into the air. Striking the steel with his mallet, the same sparks jumped into the air with each strike. Every connection with his mallet began the spectacle again and again.
Age of Souls Page 29
