Age of Souls

by Garrett Stevens

  With every attempt that Dominic or Chyla tried to get back to help the others, their own scaled combatant would be on them before they could move, forcing them to defend. Kallis, barely getting her breath back was on one knee getting ready for a shot on the larger assailant. Two arrows buried in the back of the beast without a sound from it or shifting of its grasp around Gemini’s neck.

  Mya rushed to assist her sister but was quickly cut off by one of the beasts. Drawn out combat was starting to push everyone to exhaustion. Heavy breathing across the battlefield as they were locked in a standoff with the creatures. Their spirit like cloaks cascading around them like dust filled coats pulled from a trunk. The mists coming from each of the hulks flowed across their positions in the snow as if they were summoned from the nether and not there. All anyone could do was watch as the larger Furhdrae’s grip held Gemini off the ground, her wings drooping behind her and the weakness of her fighting back showing.

  “Itk brach duu maidrae, yosh thrandin duu braakih.” The larger Furhdrae called out to the others.

  With his one good arm, Dominic held out his knuckle blade at the ready. The Furhdrae lunged toward him, claws directed at the kill. Chyla was ready this time and spun around in a flourish to pick up speed and slashed through the side of the creature, pulling blood and innards with it. Screams of death sang out as the corpse flew through the air, forcing Dominic to duck and roll under it to avoid the mess.

  Before it connected with the snow, a swirl of blackish red light erupted from the wound and engulfed around the beast. The magic from the weapon howled into the night as if demons were being summoned from the depths, called forth to rip the being a part and torment it for eternity. Black fire spewed out from its face under the hood and engulfed its whole body, boring through the rest of the body at random. Ash discharged from its form and the cloaked hulk imploded onto itself, sending a plume of ash into the air and gently joining the snow as it fluttered to the blanketed earth.

  Kallis pulled back on her three strands again, bringing out another set of light arrows. Letting the volley towards the smaller Furhdrae that was swiping at Mara. Two struck mid mass while the third buried itself in the side of its head, sending another howling shriek into the night as it collapse to the ground, writhing in pain. Mara spun her scythe around and buried the tip into the other side of the monster’s skull, sending cracking noises across the battlefield.

  Gemini, now limp in the grasp of the larger assailant, looked like a doll it had brought with it as the beast held her. In a lust for revenge at the sight of her sister, with fire in her palm at the ready, Mya screamed at the beast as she came at it, full sprint.

  The massive Furhdrae was ready for her and side stepped the attack, sending her into the snow and just avoiding the electrical ball of fire in her hand. With a calculated assessment of the battle, the creature shot from its position towards the forest that touched main gate with Gemini in hand.

  Kallis fired what she could at the beast, but its speed was too great at her angle, sending the arrows shattering against the tower walls. Shockwaves of light sent the Furhdrae off balance but kept its speed up as it fled the fight. Standing from her nest in the snowbank, Kallis turned to the group.

  “We need to finish the two before they can come back.” Kallis called out. “The cursed weapons you got from Xen will work best.” Kallis motioned to Chyla and Dominic.

  “No one said these things were cursed.” Chyla’s tone was full or worry as she looked down at the two khopesh blades linked together in her hands.

  “Would you have taken them otherwise Darling?” Kallis asked. “Hurry.”

  Mya rushed over to Tharissa who was still in the snow, holding her stomach. Tharissa looked up at her sister with a face full or tears and pain.

  “I will survive.” Tharissa winced out.

  “There should be bandages in someone’s bag. We will need to cover the wounds if we are to survive the walk to Colde without infection.” Dominic looked down at his own arm that dripped blood into the snow below.

  “We have to go after Gemini.” Mya ordered.

  Chyla stepped towards the closest body of a down Furhdrae and drove her blade into the body. The same torrent of bloody red dark fire engulfed the body, ripping through it until it imploded on itself in a hail of ash like the first.

  “I will go after her; I am not wounded and still have the stamina tonic.” Mara shouted before started to head in the direction the large beast ran off in.

  “You won’t be able to completely kill them if you catch up.” Kallis called out to her.

  “A Furhdrae won’t be a problem for a Spiri.” Mara shouted back with confidence and disappeared into the trees.

  “The Darling won’t be able to do it alone; I will go as well.” Kallis called out as she flicked her weapon back into its holster.

  “I am light on my feet; I will go too.” Chyla sternly said and followed Kallis through the trees before Dominic could say anything.

  With a sigh and a shake of his head, Dominic nodded at the trees where they had disappeared.

  “She will keep an eye on her.” He said under his breath. “We should keep moving, get somewhere to rest and wait for them. It will be at least a half day to get to Colde where we can wait while we get supplies.”

  Dominic sighed before turning to the final Furhdrae body and drove his blade deep into its skull. The same display of fire and ash erupted from the body until the ash plumed up into the snowy night. Helping the two girls to their feet, he reached into his pack to look for a bandage and assisted Tharissa to wrap her wound.

  “Do we have one for your arm?” Tharissa asked, looking at his bleeding gashes.

  “We can make one from something inside.” Dominic smiled against the pain in his arm.

  Exiting the night into the tower base, sounds of rummaging and fabric ripping echoed through the open door. Mya and Tharissa waiting for him before collecting themselves to keep going. The worry they shared in their faces never faded.

  “She will be alright. She is stronger than you think.” Tharissa tried to comfort Mya.

  “I know.” Mya whispered.

  Impressions of bodies and footprints of the battle scattered the snowy scene that were already starting to be filled in by the falling snow. Gentle curves along the edges of all imprints form as the three turned to the road cutting through the forest and sighed with a heavy breath before kicking out the snow piled on their boots.

  “The faster we can get to Colde, the faster we can clean these wounds.” Dominic looked down at his arm and over at Tharissa’s abdomen. “Should be able to get there before sunrise.”

  “Is this what all your adventures are like?” Tharissa asked Mya.

  “More or less. Happy you were able to come this time?”

  “I think I prefer my soft cozy bed.” Tharissa sulked as she looked down at her hand holding her bloody bandage. Opening her hand to see her hand covered in red, she frowned at the sight.

  No words were shared amongst the three as they trekked through the snow. The bright moon above illumined their way, making it easy to find their footing in the deepening snow.

  With each step, Dominic kicked out waves of white, cutting a path for the smaller elven women behind him. Mya looked back at the horizon, watching the stone structure fade to the forest as they rounded the bend in the road.

  Chapter 26

  Every step the forest blurred by, Chyla was trying everything she could to keep up to Kallis and Mara; something not natural was spurring them along. Occasionally, Kallis would check behind her to see if she was still there which would slow her slightly and increased the distance between her and Mara. Having to duck under or sidestep branches and hurdle over fallen logs, the chase was not easy.

  The Furhdrae carrying Gemini was not taking the time to hide its tracks, or skirt around anything that gave away the direction it was heading. Broken branches, ferns, and crumpled saplings littered through its wake. At the speed they were runni
ng, it was not long before they reached the base of the Darke Mountains. There was no subtle connection between the northern province and rocky mass. The monolithic stone of them just appeared from out of the forest of a sheer unclimbable wall. The rock structure stretched high above them and as far as she could see to either direction.

  “There should be an entrance north of us into the tunnels.” Kallis called forward toward Mara who had stopped and looked for tracks from the Furhdrae. “It’s the only way into Travelers Alley from this side of the mountains.”

  Chyla was just barely able to catch up before Mara was off again. She would not be able to last much longer at this pace. Kallis looked behind to check on her fatigue and slowed slightly to allow her to catch up.

  “I, can’t.” Chyla laboured through her loss of breath. “I need to stop.”

  “We don’t have time darling. I’ll have to carry you.” Kallis stepped closer to her and knelt with her back towards her.

  “Can you handle the extra weight?” Chyla looked up from her bent over posture.

  “You can’t weigh that much Darling, and I still have the stamina tonic flowing through me.” Kallis smiled warmly and waved her over with her head.

  Chyla straddled her legs around Kallis’ waist and was quickly picked up and she stood. It was almost as if she didn’t weigh an ounce to her. At the speed they were moving, it would be easy for her to fall off, so she had to lean into Kallis’ shoulders and hug her to hold on and keep centered.

  “Thanks.” Chyla whispered into her ear.

  “No problem Darling.”

  Mara was still within view and was starting to grow as they slowly caught up. Her wings trailed behind her like a beautiful cascade of tail feathers from a bird of paradise. The armour shifting its way around her body complimented itself from head to toe and over to her wings. Chyla had a hard time taking her eyes off her.

  “She’s beautiful.” Kallis broke Chyla’s concentration.

  “What?” Chyla played coy.

  “Mara. All Spiri are like that Darling, very beautiful, regal and majestic.” Kallis continued as branches whipped past. “I’ve met only a couple, and all were very elegant, gentle, and friendly with their interactions. Beautiful and deadly at the same time.”

  “Why does their armour move?”

  “It’s a source of magic given to them, it’s actually a living thing. They are not always like that though. When they are relaxed and not in a threatened state, the armour scales back to leave little to the imagination.”

  Chyla looked up at Mara from Kallis’ shoulder and seductively raised an eyebrow with a coy smile, trying to imagine.

  “Might have an easy time with that aura you give off.” Kallis gave her a little nudge with her shoulder.

  “Aura?” Chyla leaned back slightly.

  “With your particular soul, stirs up the lust inside those around you.” Kallis craned her head slightly and smiled through the sides of her eyes.

  Noticing Mara being stopped, their sprinting slowed down enough for Kallis to drop Chyla to her feet and have a light jog. The winged woman had stopped and hid herself below a large boulder near a large opening in the side of the mountain. Scurrying to get next to her, both slinked in without making a noise.

  “It stopped just inside the tunnel.” Mara tapped the rock with her finger to point through it.

  “I hear voices.” Kallis whispered.

  “There is a group of soldiers there talking to it.” Mara leaned slowly out the side of the rock for another look.

  “Let me listen.” Kallis motioned to switch positions with Mara.

  Nodding, Mara shuffled her way around Kallis while keeping herself as low to the ground as she could. Her wings sagged down as she moved to keep them from the top of the boulder.

  “Is now really the time for that?” Mara glanced over at Chyla during the shuffle to notice that she had her dress rolled up as she crouched and was playing with herself.

  “It’s exciting to be on the chase, we have a bit of time.” Chyla looked at her and smiled before resting the back of her head against the boulder.

  “Just be ready.” Mara shook her head and turned to watch Kallis.

  She sat in an uncomfortable position without moving a muscle and held a very intense stare as she watched the group inside the tunnel. Minutes passed without her breathing, twitching or blinking; she might as well of been a statue. Finally, with a jolt back to a seated position, she let out a long breath.

  “Captain Raazin, leading a company from Bardain. Had some complaint about the time it took them to get up through Estar with the wild chase they were put on for some map. They are taking Gemini down to Murdone and need her unspoiled.” Kallis spoke with a blank stare.

  “Do we follow the soldiers then?” Mara readied her scythe for another sprint.

  “We know where they are going, and our tonic’s will be wearing off before getting there. We best head back to meet up with Dominic and the others before it gets through our system and we have to slow right now.” Kallis pursed her lips in a defeat.

  “What happens if we don’t rest for twelve hours after we stop?” Mara asked

  “If it is like the tonic I have had in the past, we would be too weak to do defend ourselves and would only be able to walk at best. Hard to stay awake and active for three days without some sort of consequence.” Kallis shrugged with a half smirk. “I have seen some lose their minds.”

  “We can’t just leave her with them.” Chyla spoke a little louder, forcing the others to reach out and to quiet her and calm her down.

  “They mentioned unspoiled, and her armour will still protect her while she is unconscious. There is something they need her for at full strength.” Kallis tried to put her concern to rest. “If they are from Bardain with a company that large, likely members of the Sigil and will follow any orders given.”

  “We then have a break if we can get mounted transportation when we visit these Iceclaw people.” Mara spoke with confidence.

  “We can’t just leave her.” Chyla stressed again.

  “She will be safer in their hands then with the Furhdrae. They are on foot as well and will take them a good while to get down to Murdone. I am sure we can get faster transportation from the Barbarians.” Kallis placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder and smiled.

  • • •

  The city of Colde was dark on the horizon, only sharp shadows against the night skyline stood in view. No fires burning, not a single campfire, not even a candle in windows. It was as if everyone forgot to get ready for the night. Closer and closer, Mya, Dominic, and Tharissa walked down the snowy road. With each step, the worry across their faces grew and grew.

  “We should have passed many merchants and travelers during the walk, there should be a lot outside the city as well. Camps with fires, some sort of night life buzzing about.” Dominic’s worried tone made all three slow their pace.

  “Everything is so dark; streets should have some sort of illumination.” Mya looked up at him and back to the growing void ahead. “This feels very much like the North Gate.”

  Step after step, they tried to keep the noise of the crunching snow beneath them soft as the obscured buildings grow into the night sky, stacking shadows on shadows. Detail started to show within the city and buildings, allowing the larger boulder and stonework to present itself within the masonry walls.

  Nestled into the edges of the Stone Giant Forest, the thick stone walls circled the entire city to create an oasis of comfort within the jagged trees and towering stone pillars. Every home and shop was built with large stones or boulders and a short-gabled roof clad with a thick thatch topping. All the rustic mortar that filled between each stone had some sort of moss growing across it or covered in a vine. Around each window, the greenery encircled the glass panes and spreading across the larger sides of walls.

  Small indentations in the snow could barely be seen on the road as they got closer to the main gates which told the story of many people
trying to get somewhere in a rush. Mya tried to see if they were coming or going or how long it had been, but with the snow constantly falling, they were minor undulations across the vast sea of frozen.

  “Stick to the tree line, we don’t want to draw undue attention.” Dominic corralled them back with his arm to keep out of the line of the entrance gate.

  Night had made an eerie quietness to the city which made Mya think back to Mirror Lake. This too felt very much like a tomb. She knew that there was a magic at work and had to swallow back the feeling of death. Nothing moved on the far side of the outer wall, no sounds of nocturnal creatures rummaging for their daily rations, no shuffling of the wind washing through the treetops. Only the gently flutter of the snow gave some sort of life to the frozen tomb ahead.

  Reaching the entrance portcullis, Dominic rest his shoulder against the stone wall and glanced around the corner. After a moment he slinked back and looked at the two sisters.

  “It’s empty.” He shrugged. “Be on your guard while we look for a place to rest.”

  Both girls nodded at his quiet words and watched as he crested around the corner and disappeared into the city.

  “She will be ok.” Tharissa placed a hand on Mya’s shoulder in reassurance.

  Mya looked back at her sister.

  “Gemini was always the most resilient of us.” Tharissa could only squeeze her shoulder in hopes to raise her spirits.

  Keeping close to one side of the street, all three made sure to check behind them with every other step and double up on the windows to the empty homes and shops. Empty lamp posts hung out front housing with blackened glass and chilling air that made the hair on their necks stand on end. Hanging shop signs dangled down from the tops of entries like watchers in the night or criminals being hung from the neck, warning anyone that the tomb would eventually take them too.

  Down the street, a larger well sat in the center of a larger courtyard. Circling buildings on all corners with a road feeding off into the rest of the city in the four directions like a massive compass. The clearing of buildings made them all stop near the edge of the last shop, giving them some time to scout the open space.