***
Sneaking by the guards at the gate that were half asleep and half drunk had been easy. Now was the difficult part. Nishga walked softly down the corridor to the Praetors room. She put her ear up to the door for any indication that there might be someone on the other side, with a sigh of relief she opened the door and edged her way silently into the room and froze suddenly. The room was vacant but the fire was still alight in the hearth. There was a shadow behind one of the chairs, it stretched out over the wall and was in the shape of cloaked figure. It was this that had startled her. Nishga moved round the desk and tried the draw where she had seen the Praetor place the Orb. It was locked. She pulled back her cloak, took out her crystal and placed it next to the lock. Concentrating hard the crystal seemed to come alive. Energy reached through the lock and solidified, fitting the mechanism inside and slowly turning it. There was a sharp click and the draw sprung back. She pulled out the small box and placed it on top of the desk, slowly lifting the lid. There was the Orb. Nishga placed it in a small piece of cloth and tucked it away safely. The small box was then placed back in the draw and Locked away. She covered herself in the cloak and exited the room. She then went to investigate the reliquary. She made her way down the long corridor to a thick wooden door at the other end, there was a small brass plate to its front, with an engraving, Chapel, she knew that such a place was the likely home for many holy relics. She opened the door and entered. It was a large hall filled with statues of different Gods. Golden Mosaics were on the floor, the walls were adorned with beautiful frescos. Tall Marble Pillars ran along either side. There was also a staircase to one side. Nishga descended without hesitation. At the bottom were metal railings and a padlocked gate. She took out her crystal and illuminated what was a crypt. Inside there was a sarcophagus, wooden shelves atop of which were many relics, scrolls marked with holy seals from both west and east. Nishga thought it risked too much for her to enter the crypt so thinking better of it, and having already got what she had come for, she turned to leave. As she did so there something caught her eye. She shone the crystal back into the crypt at where she thought the glint had come from and something softly shone back. She knew this was worth investigating so once more using her crystal she opened the padlock and slowly removed the chain so as not to make a sound. Without much effort the gate swung open, with an aged creek as it did so. Nishga stopped immediately catching her breath, waiting in anticipation that she had alerted some guard to her presence, and yet no one came to investigate, with relief she entered the crypt and making sure this time that she did not disturb anything she moved toward where the light had come form. At the bottom of the sarcophagus was a small opening, no more than a mouse hole. In the gloom it would not have been possible to see it. Her crystal however gave off a brighter light than had been see in such a place for many a year. Nishga reached into the hole with her fingers and gently managed to persuade something to enter the world once more, which had been hidden there long ago. It was another Crystal but of a different shape. Curious Nishga lifted hers and placed it with the other one comparing the two. As soon as the two Crystals touched in her hands, there was a fierce blazing light. Nishga closed her eyes and forced her hands together so that she might be less exposed. The light suddenly diminished, Nishga felt a surge of energy run through her body. Luckily there were no windows so the light had been contained. She opened her hands to see only one Crystal. The two had merged together. The Crystal now in her hands was different to her original one. Instead of being long and thin it was tear shaped. She fitted it back round her neck and moved out of the crypt. Before leaving Nishga placed the chain round the gates once more and closed the padlock. She then made her way out of the Chapel. And away form the Citadel, Nishga hurried passed the guards at the gates, and on to the tavern. She crept inside moving quickly across the now empty floor. Up the stairs, and this time with a soft knock on the door, entered the room where Achil, Andreas and Nicholas had been waiting apprehensively for her return.
She had thrown off her cloak and as the others all hushed, explained what had happened; showing them her crystal and how it had changed and the significance of taking the Orb. They now needed to work out how to use it. That morning just before sunrise they were woken by the sound of horses leaving the courtyard of the Citadel; the clamour of their hooves disappearing into the distance. No alarm had sounded which meant that the Praetor had not realised the Orb was missing. Achil and Nishga rose and went down stairs. A barmaid was up mopping the floor. She smiled at them as they passed her by. Outside Andreas and Nicholas had the wagon readied and were already mounted on their horses. Achil placed his and Nishga’s Holdalls on the back of their rig. Then he jumped onto the front took hold of the reigns and released the break, he urged the horses forward. The Wagon lurched forward, the wheels struggling to turn. They were on the move. Soon they were back on the road and heading toward Horrazim. The land was wooded the terrain more rocky than previously. The road passed over hills through vales; little hamlets were slipping quietly by. As evening approached once more they came by another stone, standing by the side of the road. 'You have entered Mead.’ Not for the first time they were heading into the unknown.
Achil & The Kingdom of Jin Page 4
