by P R Glazier
~
Nar’Allia and Jonas, sat in the Taekla’s home sipping welcome mugs of steaming hot tea. It transpired that ‘Taekla’ was the title given to a leader of these people, the word roughly translated into ‘advisor’ or ‘elder’ or even ‘sage’, but it was also their word for mother. Her real name however was Deanola and she was Taekla to this particular group of easterners who formed an extended family. Nar’Allia pondered as to how similar this arrangement was to the nomad clans they had met with in the Rust Desert, but she kept her thoughts to herself.
Nar’Allia had so many other questions to ask, she particularly wanted to substantiate the stories of Minervar’s that involved Serinae’s friend Teouso, the easterner Serinae had befriended at some point on her travels. Deanola had already admitted that most of her people were shifters, able to take on the form of an animal or bird; she in fact had a raven as her animal form or ‘shade’ as the easterners called their alternate form. Nar’Allia resisted the temptation, thinking that to ask for a demonstration was inappropriate. When Nar’Allia asked about Teouso Deanola, replied that it was a name of her people, she said it meant reckless, or adventurer. But she did not know of any bearing the name, she shrugged saying that he was most probably from some other group, and their paths may not have ever crossed. He would however be much older than her, so the likelihood of anyone remembering him was remote unless they were related or good friends. For Deanola’s people did not keep any written historic records as such, just stories remembered and told by individuals.
Jonas asked about the Gnome city, Deanola replied that it was once here. She said that all that remained were a few ruins, the city was destroyed long ago, but the main bulk of the ruins were now hidden within the shroud. Not much remained outside only a few rocks glimpsed amongst the heather. Only moorlands existed here for the most part until you reached the mountains of the great spine to the west, but those were many miles from here, over seven days travel. But she did admit to her people telling of the city long ago, she knew that the Gnomes had inhabited it in times long past.
Jonas asked about the shroud.
Deanola replied. “It was a region within this land that was highly charged with arcane energy, none of her people went there for it was an easy place to get lost within unless you understood a little about how things worked differently within the shrouds borders. She said that the land here had always been affected by the shroud.”
Jonas told Deanola how when they flew over the land in a certain place, the flying machines controls behaved in an odd way. Deanola agreed that although she did not understand the workings of the battle ship it did seem that the strange behaviour of the machine could well be attributed to their flying directly above the shroud. She then said something surprising. “The shroud is a protective force around the city of the dread elves. They stay inside most of the time, only leaving to travel or to cause mischief. They wish to remain hidden.”
Nar’Allia sat upright and said excitedly, “dread elves you mean the T’Iea’Neat’Thegoran, the dark elves? They are here?”
Deanola looked at her curiously. “Certainly yes, we have lived with them as neighbours for a long time. Generally they keep themselves to themselves and we do not bother them. There have been times in the past when we have fought, but equally we have also traded with them. They are far more powerful than are we in both numbers and in resources.”
“And what relationship do you have with them now?” Asked Jonas suspiciously.
Deanola chuckled. “Now? Well none, we have not crossed each other’s paths for many years. Not since I was a girl.”
Nar’Allia felt a great excitement rise within her. Deanola had alluded to the fact that the city of the T’Iea’Neat’Thegoran, was close by. This was what they may have been searching for; it may be the place where they will find Minervar! Then she became concerned, she felt a chill in her bones. She shouted out in great excitement. “But Amndo and JDC have gone in there, into the shroud, they are trying to find out more and find the Pnook city, they may be lost if they do not understand the place and how it plays tricks.
Deanola nodded and said, “come,” then standing slowly she continued, “they will need to be found and brought back, and quickly. I doubt they will ever find their way out on their own. If they are captured by the dread elves and they will not escape. Probably they will meet death, or worse.”
Jonas went to stand as well, but Deanola motioned for him to sit back down, “it’s alright westerner, we will take care of this the two of us, you stay. Do not worry over your elven friend, she is in safe hands.”
Nar’Allia did not expect Jonas to accept this without some comment or disagreement, but to her surprise he just smiled and held up his hand in complete acceptance of what Deanola had just suggested.
Soon Nar’Allia and Deanola stood outside the village wall, Alonso and his friend the hare, who Nar’Allia now knew to be his sister whose name turned out to be Shanria were requested to also remain behind, they seemed to accept this without any concerns as they halted at the village gate and turned back towards the huts as soon as Deanola and Nar’Allia passed through back out onto the moorlands. Nar’Allia noticed that the woman who had allowed them passage before did not show herself and they passed through the warding at the gate easily. She asked Deanola how this could be, Deanola said, “I do not require the ward to be dropped, for the ward is mine, it will not harm me or those that travel by my side.”
Deanola led the way back across the heather in roughly the direction they had come from the leviathan, at least Nar’Allia thought so. After walking for some twenty minutes, Deanola stopped and revealed some kind of lamp from her robes; she looked intently into the lamp, a warm glow started. This glow grew in intensity until it was quite bright. The mist seemed to recede from the bright white light, shy back into the shadows. They seemed to be looking down a long tunnel in the mist, Nar’Allia found she could see much farther within the tunnel than without. She was amazed for as she looked around up and down, left and right, it appeared that the tunnel followed the direction of her vision. It didn’t matter where she looked, she looked down the tunnel. It was like looking through the spy glass on the Ocean Belle.
Deanola led the way forward, “we have just entered the shroud, please do not stray from the way-light lest you be lost to wander until we find you once more, or someone else does.” At these last words Deanola gathered the thick skins around her shoulders and Nar’Allia thought she saw the old woman shiver slightly.