Severance

by Fergal F. Nally

  They stayed in shared thought for some time, unified in their dishonour and fear. The mists of the darkness cleared around the unity of their thought. The spellcraft they used had an intelligence of its own. They presented the dark lore with their dilemma and from out of the mists came the answer, clear as the light on a winter’s day.

  Words formed within their minds:

  The power you desire to defeat your enemy lies in one place only, find the Aerithryl Shard in the land of the Shiffante. It is this and this alone that will turn the tide against the Shiffante. The Shard will undermine Shiffante power. You must go to the ancient Shinalese coastal fortress D’aenasa and search out the wild magic of the Aerithryl.

  The dark mists congealed around the words then:

  You must make haste if you are to succeed for there are others who seek the Aerithryl and its power…

  LeSouris and S’Jukdara reconnected after the words faded away. They knew what they had to do and they started making their plans.

  ~

  The Shiffante sensed an imbalance. One of their number had felt the eyes of another…behind them, from the dead city. This was impossible…and yet. Their doubt grew. They would continue to watch the mirrorpools. One of their kind was in that area. They would awaken their brother and send him out into the Wild Forest, back towards the dead city and its lone pyramid. To explore, learn and devour.

  ~

  After a day of recuperation and planning Q’uaina and the others set out for the coastal city, D’aenasa. Carutha had found supplies in the halls of the invisible pyramid to assist them in their journey.

  Q’uaina discovered that when Ossian was in his wolf form and Agathe in her bird form she could communicate with them using her new Erthe powers. It was as if the three had formed a bond.

  Ossian scouted ahead in their journey through the Wild Forest, whilst Agathe combed the skies looking for trouble further afield. They were able to find the most direct route to the coastal plains avoiding the Shiffante. The journey through the forest took two days, then they came to the border between the green and white lands, summer and winter.

  Q’uaina looked ahead into the white wastes with uncertainty. It was startling to be standing at this demarcation created by the Shiffante. It was wrong, an abuse of Erthe law. She felt concern as she crossed over with a single footstep from summer to winter. Desolation swept her body as soon as she entered the winter realm. Carutha had provided them with cloaks of reflective shielding that kept them warm inside and yet blended with the surroundings. She had also given them special shoes that enabled them to cross the snow.

  They pressed on making good progress in the frozen landscape. Agathe took to the air every now and then to spy out the way ahead and watch for danger. Q’uaina looked with wonder each time Agathe shape shifted into a bird of prey. She was still upset at losing her clan tattoos but this was becoming less important as time went by. Her new ability to reach out and communicate with Ossian and Agathe fascinated her. She was still learning how this was done; at times, she imagined she could overhear other voices whilst in this state. She instinctively backed away from any other connection, not wanting to inadvertently reveal their location to the Shiffante.

  They spent two further nights on the snow beneath unfamiliar stars. Ossian showed them how to dig a snow hole; this Q’uaina found was surprisingly warm. A skill she was glad to learn. Carutha had ensured they had enough food for the journey. She had also advised them on the wards they would encounter at D’aenasa. Their effect she had warned would be undiminished by the years of abandonment.

  On the third day, the light changed. They were close to the coast; the breeze brought the tang of sea air to them. Q’uaina’s heart felt good to be near the ocean. She had grown up near the great sea, the mother provider. She felt as if she was returning home. They kept up their pace and around noon a shape became discernable in the distance; D’aenasa.

  Chapter 15

  D’aenasa

  They kept going and after a while the snow abruptly stopped. A perfect demarcation between snow and grass greeted them. This did not make Q’uaina gasp. The skulls did. Beyond the snowline human skulls lay strewn in great mounds, some were smashed, some scorched, some intact.

  “This is where the wards take effect,” Carutha declared. “The Shiffante disposed of my people’s remains here; you are looking at the last resting place of the Shinalese,” her voice was cold, barren of emotion. “They chose here, it was symbolic to them. Vengeance for their exile to the coast and their flight to the islands beyond…”

  Ossian’s jaw clenched and his face flushed. “Carutha…I…”

  She looked at him. “I know our pain is a shared one, your people too,” her voice a whisper carried by the wind. “Come let’s go, we should make the city by nightfall. It’s not good to be outside here, the darkness; it allows bad memories to rise from the ground. The Erthe, she is stained here, stained too much bloodshed and dark forces. The city walls will provide us with shelter and not just from the elements.”

  They did not press her further on her meaning. They were tired and needed no encouragement to press on. It would be dark soon; rest and food were all they could think of. They stepped forwards avoiding the skulls as best they could. Every so often, their feet would crush scorched bone and cloying ash would reach up to choke them.

  D’aenasa’s walls rose up before them. Not a ruined city, but an intact one. It seemed a soulless place. Empty. Yet something dwelt within the emptiness, they could feel its presence in their hearts. The light was fading as they crossed over into the arms of the city through an ornate gateway. The sound of surf crashing against the cliffs far below came to them. D’aenasa seemed to inhale, holding its breath in anticipation of what the night might bring.

  They were too cold, hungry and tired to care. Carutha led them to a building just within the walls. They slumped to the floor and stretched out. She made sure the door was bolted securely behind them and only then did she relax. “Tomorrow we’ll search for clues for the Aerithryl Shard’s whereabouts. It’s here that the trail begins.”

  They settled down for the night and set watch. Instead of feeling secure in their first shelter in three nights they felt a deep unease. Sleep was elusive and fitful when it came. Outside the wind picked up and rain hammered at the door most of the night, further adding to the sense of bleakness.

  Q’uaina woke with a cold weariness. Her very bones ached and her muscles felt like stiff, damp cords. She sat up and rubbed some life back into them. Early morning light filtered in underneath the iron-shod door.

  “Breakfast, then we head into the centre of the city,” Carutha said.

  They had a light meal washed down with water and then headed out into the new day. The rain had stopped and puddles reflected the steely grey sky above. Ossian and Agathe had their hands on their sword hilts, ready and alert. Q’uaina found her senses reaching out and read the way ahead, behind and to either side of their path. She listened to the stone, the wind and rain. It all made sense to her, she could feel the mood of this place, sense her way through its heart.

  “This way,” Carutha directed pointing to a slight incline that led further into the city. They passed empty buildings, long since abandoned. History hung heavy in the air, sorrow lay everywhere. The walls could tell stories; they had borne witness. Q’uaina detected pain and the memory of bloodshed. She also was aware of the wards, placed there by the founding fathers generations ago to protect the city. Wards that were still active and dangerous, waiting.

  They came to a stone building, different to all the others, at the centre of a large square. Its roof sloped up directly from the ground; its lintels carved in intricate patterns. The entrance doors lay wide open, the wind echoing forlornly within.

  “This way,” Carutha said.

  They entered the building and it took a few moments for their eyes to adjust to the gloom. At the centre of the room was a sunken area, what had once been a water filled pool. Abo
ve this, projecting down from the ceiling was a huge, inverted silver tree. Its roots spread out amongst the rafters intertwining and enmeshing with the fabric of the roof. Its branches and silver leaves hung suspended above the pool. It was clear this had been a place of great significance.

  “The pool of life and the tree of the stars,” Carutha’s voice filled the chamber. “At the summer and winter solstice, the sun’s rays enter this chamber filling it with light. The pool acts as a lens and focuses Erthe energy onto the silver tree. She then awakens, her leaves turn luminescent and her roots fill the ceiling with shimmering stars. It is then that Erthe magic flows and those that know how can tap this and fill their spirit with Erthe lore.”

  “ It must have been a beautiful sight,” Agathe spoke.

  Carutha went over to the empty pool and started examining the structure. “Here everyone, search out any inscription looking like this,” she drew a small diagram depicting the Aerithryl Shard and another symbol, the mark of the shard bearer.

  They scrutinised the pool and the leaves of the silver tree but nothing was forthcoming. Carutha turned to Q’uaina. “Q’uaina I can sense the seer in you quickening, do you know what to do? How to read the situation? Do you get a sense of where the Shard may be?” Desperation edged her voice.

  Q’uaina had already started. She nodded her head slightly in answer to Carutha’s plea but remained silent. Her heart reached out to the room and allowed itself to be embraced by the strength, the memories, the potential there. She felt a shift, an opening within and then saw a memory unfold from a time long since past. They all saw it, projected in front of them as if real. A shiver ran down Ossian’s spine.

  It started as a small ray of sunlight entering through an opening far above in the roof. The ray became stronger, brighter, warmer turning golden and crept across the ceiling towards the roots of the silver tree. Q’uaina saw with the eyes of the enlightened, the eyes of the wise. She knew that the truth would be found only by losing herself in the vision.

  The golden rays reached the silver roots and the tree blushed with life. Light shimmered and streaked along its trunk and up the branches at last to reach the leaves. They became translucent with green Erthe energy pouring forth wisdom and lore into the eyes and hearts of the wise.

  “Seek the answer,” whispered Carutha into Q’uaina’s ear. “Chase the knowledge.”

  Q’uaina did not hear her, locked as she was in a trance. She was there already, intuition leading her to the answer. There, within the tree she saw an area of blue marked on the inner branches. It was a map of the journey and final resting place of the Aerithryl Shard. It came to her as a song, crystal clear in the air. Her heart leapt, she heard chimes, the minutes seemed like a lifetime. She knew, she knew where the Shard had been taken…then she blacked out.

  ~

  LeSouris stretched out his wings, bones cracked and the feathers rustled. They glistened raven black in the moonlight. S’Jukdara had joined him. Together they had made it to the Shiffante realm. It had been difficult but they had found a mirrorpool not watched by the Shiffante. They had crossed over between dimensions and had made good progress. D’aenasa stood before them brooding and still. LeSouris sensed the undead all around.

  “Any of your kin here?” S’Jukdara spoke.

  “Not my kind, but something else. Tread carefully my friend we are not welcome here.”

  They made their way through D’aenasa’s streets to the centre of the city where they found the building housing the silver tree.

  “Someone has been here before us,” S’Jukdara hissed.

  LeSouris smelt the air and tasted the scent of three humans and another he could not define. He blinked and a thin membrane reached out from the corners of his eyes covering the pupils. His eyes turned black. He saw slight traces of warmth on the ground, footprints. He bent down to examine them closely, nostrils flaring. He frowned.

  “This puzzles me, three sets of prints. But four residues linger in the air.”

  “Perhaps a ghost then?” S’Jukdara’s tone mocking.

  LeSouris paid no heed. His spine cracked beneath his clothing as he stood. “They have gone to ground, we should continue the search. They have found something useful here. They are the ones searching for the Shard. We will follow them, use them. They will do the work and take us direct to its hiding place.”

  The drow and the vampire left the silver tree to its forgotten dreaming and stepped back into the night.

  ~

  “She’ll be alright now,” Carutha said.

  They sat beside Q’uaina who lay sleeping, quietly at last. They had taken her away from the silver tree after she had collapsed. Carutha had led them to one of a series of sea towers on the edge of the city. Dramatic cliff faces fell away thousands of feet below them. The wind tore through the lonely towers standing guard against a long forgotten enemy. They had made Q’uaina as comfortable as possible and watched her. Her breathing had steadied and colour had returned to her face.

  “She has it, she found it, the way. She has the map in her head.” Carutha could not keep the excitement from her voice. “She’ll take us to the Shard’s resting place.”

  Ossian shifted his feet uneasily. His muscles tense, on edge.

  “It’s too quiet, I don’t trust this place. I feel the need to fly,” Agathe spoke out.

  Carutha looked at her. “You may be right. There’d be no harm in an aerial check. The moon should assist you, she is almost full tonight, I can feel her influence.”

  “It’s settled then. I’ll return before dawn. Stay here with Q’uaina where I can find you.” Agathe stepped towards the window and in a heartbeat she changed to her eagle form. She vanished through the open window out into the silver night.

  Ossian was bewitched by the spectacle. He felt his blood wild; he yearned to run free beneath the silver caress of the moon. Its pull was irresistible.

  “Don’t go Ossian, you’re wanted here. Q’uaina needs you.” Carutha’s voice pulled him back from the edge. His blood quelled, humanity returning.

  Once or twice in the long night Ossian thought he heard wings beating outside, but when he went to the window there was nothing. His blood warned him. He felt like prey; something was out in the night hunting them. Carutha sensed it too; she glanced nervously at the window every now and again.

  Finally, dawn glimmered on the horizon and the first feeble rays of morning light flickered on the walls behind them.

  Q’uaina moved. Her eyes blinked and she sat up. Without hesitation she spoke. “I know where the Aerithryl Shard is. It will be impossible to reach.”

  Chapter 16

  Chase

  A flapping came from the window; a hawk appeared.

  “Agathe…” Ossian took a step forwards.

  The hawk launched itself into the room and in a blur of movement changed into the svelte form of Agathe. She had deep rings beneath her eyes and looked exhausted.

  “We must leave now, we are being pursued. The Shiffante are close. One of them is less than a league from here to the south. He rides a black stallion. I’ve never seen a horse so big, the snow melts before its feet. Winter turns to summer with each step.”

  Agathe looked at Q’uaina. “There are others I saw. Two. Concealed in shadow beneath the tower. They are different, more like us…but not. One looks like a dark elf, the other I’m not certain but could be undead.”

  Her words hung in the air, dread followed in their wake.

  “They want the Aerithryl Shard,” Q’uaina spoke softly, her words measured. “The Shard lies with the sea witches, under the waves. Beyond our reach.”

  Carutha rose suddenly. “Quick, Agathe is right follow me now. There’s no time for words.”

  They helped Q’uaina up and followed Carutha out of the room. Q’uaina had recovered her strength and was able to keep up. Carutha led them down the spiral stairs of the tower. They passed ground level and the staircase continued on underground, deep into the rock of the cliff
s upon which D’aenasa was built. The steps became eroded and were broken in places. Agathe nearly slipped, pitching forwards and only caught herself at the last minute by grabbing Ossian’s shoulder. Carutha on the other hand never faltered and at times seemed to glide over the stone.

  Darkness closed in on them. Ossian produced his gloves and was able to provide enough light for everyone to see by. Carutha’s hair also let off a glowing sheen enough to illuminate the front of their little column.

  They kept on, down and down. Q’uaina stopped counting after five hundred steps. They heard others following. Small stones and gravel fell from above narrowly missing them.

  Carutha stopped abruptly before a break in the rock. The steps continued down into the darkness. She pointed to the fissure in the wall and then climbed through. They followed her and found themselves in a cave. The floor sloped away at an alarming angle and their momentum carried them forwards rapidly.

  The passageway led onwards and narrowed before opening out into a huge cavern. Their senses were assaulted by sound, taste and incredible light. They could hear the sea pounding the cliffs nearby, the tang of salt water lay heavy in the air and Ossian’s light was reflected a hundredfold by huge, ancient rock crystals which filled the cave.

  Carutha did not slow. She broke into a run and touched the crystals, which shimmered as her skin brushed their surface. They started to vibrate and resonate with the nearby ocean’s primal energy.

  She led them through the cavern and they emerged onto jagged rocks jutting out into the sea. She stopped abruptly on the edge of the promontory with nothing but the sea before her. All the while, the crystal vibrations behind them grew, gathering into a crescendo of their own. Carutha held out her arms, her eyes closed and seemed to beseech the ocean.

  The only other living creatures in evidence were seagulls and a pair of diving albatrosses. They vanished beneath the waves reappearing some moments later with fish protruding from their beaks. Then something happened. A connection. The albatrosses swallowed their fish and took to the wing heading towards Carutha. They dived once more into the crashing waves a short distance away.