“The base of the gate looks like no one has been here for weeks.” Mya stepped up beside Dominic and spoke in a calming tone.
“No one has. The savage giant men left.” The old man rummaged around in a small crate, pulling out two small logs.
“Why would they do that? Must be something big for them to do that. We should get to Colde and talk with Thron-Din quickly.” Dominic kept his eyes on the old hermit as he talked to the girls.
The old man scampered over to the empty hearth and rubbed the two logs together, sparking a small flame between them. Gently placing them down in the middle, he held his hands out to the flames and crawled over to the single chair in the corner.
“They will be back; you cannot linger.” The hermits tone changed to be more confident.
Chyla walked over to the window to look down.
“If you know they will be back, why light a fire?” Dominic pointed at the light filling the small tower.
“The shadows can see you with or without the fire. They will be back.” The hermit fiddles with his fingers, trying not to look at Dominic.
“There is someone coming.” Chyla turned and spoke in a hurry. “Three of them.”
The hermit shot out of his chair and scuttled towards the bucket at the end of the bed and rushed back to the fire to extinguish it.
“Death returns. The ones from the shadow.” The hermit’s fearful voice return as he shrunk back into the corner.
“Will be hard to aim from here, we should get out to the rampart and have Kallis slow them with her bow.” Dominic motioned toward a side door that sat next to the landing of the stairs. Kallis nodded and grabbed her bow from her waist and flicked it open. The three light strands extending from each arm glimmered with their power as she slipped through the other exit.
“We might be able to surprise them and not have to fight at all, let’s get back down and wait in surprise.” Dominic started towards the stairs down as he spoke.
“They are coming fast; we best be quick.” Chyla turned from the window and followed him.
With the fire out, the room darkened and barely gave enough light to see anything, even with the moon being bright. Rushing down the stairs and into the kitchen space, Mya gave a couple hand signals to Dominic to tell him that she would cross the road to the other side of the gate and hold in the shadow.
Nodding his agreement, he watched as she took off into the snowy night. Crouching just on the inside of the door, both Dominic and Chyla followed Mya as she made her way like a ghost, drifting over the snow without sound or impact and came to rest across from them. The snow continued on falling, filled in between them like it didn’t notice them.
Mya kept on eye on the three running on the horizon, making sure the dagger on her back was still free. Their speed was very impressive for how large of frame they looked, their cloaks billowing out wide behind them like a ripped-up parachute. The snow did not seem to slow them down at all.
Getting closer and closer, a single light arrow flew through the night air towards them. The taller figure on the left saw the attack and side stepped, easily dodging the arrow. Their pace did not change, even with the urgency of Kallis’ aggression. With how fast her arrows flew, there should have been no way they would have been able to dodge the attack. Mya could only shake her head to keep her focus.
Finally, close enough to get a detailed analysis, Mya could make out that the two larger framed figures were not cloaked but humanoids with wings and carried an aggressive set of armour with a bandit style mask covering the lower half of their faces. The way the moon sat in the sky shadowed the front of them too much to make out who they were, but little details could still be seen with her eyes.
One with whitish grey wings, the other with a blackish set of wings; both with an ornate texturing of armour on the arches of the wings that connected to their backs. One carried a large scythe weapon that looked like it was made from twisted metal and sinew like bone. The other held no weapon and just ran alongside the others. The third was a little shorter and carried herself with a confidence and arrogance, not dressed for the cold but still a lavish and regal look about her.
Another arrow sent from the rampart was easily knocked off to the side by the one holding the scythe, like it was nothing at all. Getting closer and closer, the three were almost within their trap. Dominic reached back and patted Chyla to be ready to strike. She had already pulled one of her blades from her back while being crouched behind him, ready to pounce. The three were almost to the first portcullis and Mya steadied herself for the jump. Now under the massive metal gate and into the shadowed darkness of the stonework, their faces finally came into view.
“Gemini?!” Mya called out from the darkness. “Tharissa?!”
The winged figure on the far side strained her neck to the left to see where Mya had called from and ran into the outstretched timber from the collapsed window. Her top half stopped almost instantly, and her bottom half kept moving, sending her legs out from under herself and flailing into the snow. The other two skidded to a halt, ready to defend their fallen comrade from the unknown attack.
“Mya?” Tharissa questioned the darkness.
Mya stood up and stepped from the shadow of the structure. Before she could finish her next step, a thud of Kallis dropping down from the rampart sounded as one of her arrows streaked through the air towards Tharissa. Without thinking, Mya reached out in a flash and grabbed the arrow before it could strike her sister and held it in front of her face.
“Kallis!” Dominic screeched towards her.
Without another thought, she drew back for a full volley from her bow on all three strands. Dominic rushed towards her, tackling her to the ground before she could loose them. The two of them rolled through the snow, being buried in a nearby snow drift as they came to a stop.
“They are friendly.” Dominic scolded her.
Kallis looked up from the snow at the three newcomers and Mya who was still holding the arrow. Dumbfounded by her ability to hold the light arrow, let alone catch it, she slowly lifted herself from the snow pile and watched intently.
“How did you do that?” Tharissa asked.
“I just reached out and grabbed it. Was not that hard.” Mya gave her a curious look.
“That is ancient magic Mya.” Kallis called over to her while helping Dominic from the ground. “You should not even be able to touch it.”
Mya looked at the arrow shaft in her grasp and tightened her hold on it. A cracking sound, like lightning striking reverberated between the gate towers, shaking the snow that collected on the stones sticking out further than the others. Everyone winced at the pain to their heads with the shattering of the weapon and returned to stare at her in amazement.
“I knew that you were strong, but that was intense.” Tharissa commented.
“Why would should I not be able to do it?” Mya turned to Kallis as she approached.
“My weapon is from a long line from a city in the northern most part of Mudiirfjall, given to us by one of the Twenty. A special magic that is only carried by two weapons in all the realms, there is nothing that can touch the light without the Immortals blessing.” Kallis kept her eyes on her, unblinking.
Mya shrugged at not knowing what else to say and stepped closer to her sister to give her an embrace.
“How are you here?” Mya gave her a caring smile as tears formed in her eyes.
“It’s a long story.” Tharissa smiled and looked back at Mara who held her guard. “It’s ok Mara.”
The Spiri’s curiosity still held a cautious concern as she lowered her defenses. Turning to help Gemini to her feet, she questioned her with a look to make sure she was alright. A shy nod was received, full of the embarrassment of being hit in the face and knocked down.
“Glad I am not the only one being hit in the face today.” Chyla stepped out from behind Dominic and chuckled to herself.
“That’s going to leave a bruise.” Gemini rubbed between her eyes and looked
back at the protruding timber.
“Will heal faster than you think.” Mara left a consoling hand on her shoulder.
Kallis couldn’t keep her questioning gaze from Mya. Her attempt to analyze Mya was caught by Dominic, who grabbed her shoulder to hold her back.
“Relax, there will be time for that later.” Dominic nodded at her in hopes to calm her down.
“I couldn’t even feel those arrows coming.” Mara spoke at Kallis. “What are you?”
“You are.” Kallis took a few steps forward. “Spiri.”
Both Gemini and Mara nodded.
“Apologies for the arrows darlings, we were under the assumption you were a threat after the old man upstairs threw a fit.” Kallis flicked her bow to fold it back up into its little packaging and slipped it into the harness on her back.
“They were different to detect, something special. I ask again, what are you?” Mara placed a hand on her hip in a standoff question.
“Don’t you mean, who are you?” Chyla butted in.
“No normal mortal, let alone a human, has the ability to block a Spiri’s senses like, not even those with a high attribute of magical energy can. There is something else.” Mara kept her gaze on Kallis.
An awkward silence filled the air and Kallis stood her ground in her response. The light snow sprinkled its way down around them being caught in the odd cross wind that rushed through the main gate. Mya and Tharissa both looked at her with a similar look in hopes to bring out more to the back story.
“A later conversation. We need to get moving.” Gemini broke the silence. “Thorn is behind us and we need to get to the glacier quickly.”
“Who is Thorn?” Chyla asked.
“One of the Neightur, she killed our parents and is now after the three of us.” Tharissa angrily answered.
“Mother and father are dead?” Mya and Gemini both said at the same time.
“Thorn got them before I could escape from the palace. Seems like she has a real thing out for killing off the family.” Tharissa answered through gritted teeth.
“Why is there always someone after us?” Gemini sighed. “Good thing we caught up to you, wasn’t sure how far we would get before nightfall after leaving Sky Pedestal early today.”
“You made good time if you left Sky Pedestal today.” Dominic exclaimed.
“Burz gave us a stamina tonic.” Gemini responded.
“That old woman still working her charms.” Mya chuckled. “Of course you went to her.” She gave Gemini an incriminating look.
“The only way we could really move around during the day without being seen. As you may have noticed, we are not the most inconspicuous pair.” Gemini brushed down her figure with the backs of her fingertips.
“About that.” Mya curiously said.
“I can explain along the way; we need to get moving.” Gemini motioned with her head in a Northern direction.
Everyone nearly nodded all together in agreement before rigging their gear back to travelling positions. Chyla kept an eye on Gemini as she shuffled her things around her body.
“You look a lot like Mya.” She asked.
“That’s because we are twins.” Chyla’s eyes brightened with Gemini’s answer and smiled to herself.
“Are we going to leave the hermit upstairs?” Chyla asked as they started to make their way from under the gate.
“Think he is a loose end darling? I can go back and …” Kallis had a sinister tone.
“No, no, no. He’s fine, just a crazy old man.” Chyla cut her off.
All seven started into their own mixed conversations with each other to try and fill in the missing pieces of all they missed as the fluttering snow washed around them in the night. From tears to an upbeat laughter, a mixed collection of emotions flooded from the group as they made their way through the star lit white wonderland with everyone trying to catch up.
“What?!? Faer is dead, but somehow alive?” Mya stopped in her tracks and halted the rest of the conversations.
“He tried to kill us and has some sort of magical connection now. Calls himself Shard.” Gemini stopped a could steps ahead of her and turned to finish their conversation.
“That would mean he is one of the Neightur.” Tharissa filled a missing detail.
Kallis’ stopped before running into them and turned back to the gate.
“Do you think he was one of them before you went into the Draag Mountains?” Mya asked.
“Maybe. The tonic that Shershin gave us stopped his heart. She must had known something was wrong with him and only made the tonic to bring that side of him out. Why else would he be so pushy to stay within the palace?” Gemini lowered her hip as she put her hand on it, leaning to one side.
“Did you say Shershin?” Mara asked loudly.
“Yes.” Gemini responded.
“If she is anything like her sister, then there was something she was leaving out with her explanation and definitely knew he wasn’t right.” Mara chuckled.
“Darlings?” Kallis’ concerned remark wasn’t noticed by everyone focused elsewhere.
Kallis stopped and flicked out her bow, drawing on the stretched out light string. Dominic turned to ask her a question and noticed that she was set for combat.
“Kallis?” He called out.
“We are not alone.” Kallis spoke at a normal tone, not caring if he heard her.
With all three strings together, three arrows of light fired off in succession, tearing their way through the snowy night air and collided into the side of the gate walls. A shock pulse of light rippled across the masonry in every direction and erupted off the stonework, pushing all the falling snow from the area. A shadowy figure staggered out from the darkened overhang and stood hunched over in the moonlight. Its cloaked hulking figure quickly regained its footing.
“Furhdrae!” Mya called out, rolling her hand around to form a blue fireball in her palm.
Chyla pulled out both her khopesh blades and flourished them around her body, connecting them into the staff like weapon. The tip slipped into the top layer of snow, sending steam up into the air as it any part of the blade touched snow. Mara slipped off her scythe from her back and twirled it around like a baton and slammed the butt end into the ground behind her and braced it with her foot.
“It’s only one.” Dominic grabbed his knuckle blades from their sheath at his hips.
Before Kallis could draw back another set of arrows, a flash of shadow flew out from the nearby trees and collided with her, sending them both into the snow. She was not ready for the attack and took the full force of the blow, billowing out the last breath of air in her lungs.
A third Furhdrae shot out from the edge of the trees in behind Dominic. The distance between them was enough for the sounds of the advance to be heard and he spun around with one of his blades, catching it in the main mass of its cloak. Horrific screams of pain rifled into the night when the Furhdrae reached out with its clawed fingers and scraped along his arm as it recoiled.
Kallis gasped for air, trying to gain her breath back from being knocked to the ground. The hulk that ran into her was already back on its feet and off towards another. She couldn’t do anything until she regained her lungs. Gasping to get a hold of herself, all she could do was watch as it sprinted towards the others.
Chyla spun in the snow towards the Furhdrae near Dominic and thrust her weapon towards it. Her feeble attempt at the strike was easily seen and the beast dodged to the side, slashing at her with its claws, catching her along the back of her shoulder, sending blood oozing from the wound.
The first Furhdrae had skirted around to come towards Mya. With Tharissa in the way, she was easily swiped to the side with its claws across her stomach. Their speed was hard to keep up with, but she was able to pull back slightly so that it couldn’t cut very deep, ripping open her dress and drawing another set of blood dripping claw marks into the snow.
Mya was ready for the attack and had spun up a second blue flame in her other palm, l
etting them loose toward the onslaught of cloak and shadow heading towards her. The Furhdrae’s speed was easy for her to keep up with and she side stepped its strike, slamming down the two balls of fire into the mid mass of the beast as it went by. A sizzling sound and a heavy impact howled up into the night from the hulk as it collapsed to the ground and slid into the deep snow.
Gemini had already pulled out her two hidden blades from her legs and pushed off towards the two between Chyla and Mya to draw their attention to her. This gave Mya enough time to mutter another incantation together and form another fireball in a free hand but with an electrical charge to it. Reaching behind to grab her dagger, she closed her eyes and took a long breath, smearing a sinister smile across her face, one of death and excitement, one for the pleasure of the battle.
With a glare through the tops of her eyes, she brought around her dirk that was covered in a blue glow and the same electrical charge that circled her fireball. A snap of her eyes from hulk to hulk, she launched toward the closest Furhdrae. Darting to the side to dodge the creatures initial strike, she countered with her own blinding speed, sending a scream of pain from the Furhdrae into the night as she drove the magical blade into the side of its torso. A cast-off stream of a greenish blood sprayed out onto the white snow as she pulled the blade from its chest.
Falling to the ground, the other Furhdrae turned with a new focus, swiping its claws at her, barely missing as she jumped back. With a thrill-seeking smile, Mya shifted her feet in the snow as she landed to brace for another attack. Before she was able to retaliate the beast from its onslaught of strikes, she noticed a shift of the moonlit shadows behind Gemini.
Spinning around, Gemini came face to face with a fourth Furhdrae, this one was much larger than the other three. It was too late; it was already on top of her with its clawed hand around her throat. Mara lunged herself at the hulking beast and was swatted aside like a rag doll. The grip was too much for her without any leverage to get her swords into its flesh. She slowed down fast with the lack of air.
Age of Souls Page 40
