Rand smiled, a solitary brow rising. “I’d heard smuggling all but ceased out of Taverin. And you’re telling me you smuggled not one, not two, but three refugees onto our shores? I know of only one sailor foolish enough to do such a thing.”
“And who might that fool be?” Barog asked with a wolfish grin. He stepped from the boat up onto the platform, extending a hand towards Rand. The man took it with a smile. “Ah, but it’s good to see a familiar face.”
“I thought you’d retired? I heard you were done with this whole smuggling business.”
Barog shrugged. “Well, what can I say, a pesky brat pulled me out of retirement with a rather suspicious amount of gold,” he explained, waggling a finger in Garild’s direction. “And you know how I love it so.”
“You haven’t changed. Still, seems a risky venture, even for gold. Is there something special about them?”
Barog looked back over his shoulder, eyeing each of them in turn. “Not in particular,” he said with a smug grin, earning a glare from Trista and Isa alike.
Rand surveyed them. “I see you’ve made friends of them already, particularly the women. Their mutual disinterest of you has been noted.” He turned his attention to Garild. “You come from Taverin? I assume you flee from the conflict, but why here? While it’s true we take in refugees from time to time, fleeing to Miridin would have been a safer bet. Are you gifted?”
Garild tensed. He’d spent months trying to hide his powers. That instinct to hide was still there, the fear of revealing such truths still a part of him. He bit his tongue, exchanging a nervous glance with Isa and Trista.
Rand shook his head and smiled politely. “I apologize if the question causes you discomfort. It’s of little importance now and can be discussed at a later time. Let me help with your bags and I’ll lead you to Sharmir.”
Everyone scrambled from the boat, hauling packs as they went. Garild approached one of the pillars, his eyes traveling over the delicately carved surface. He reached out his hand, touching the stone with the tips of his fingers. It was cold to the touch and smooth. The pillar was a swirl of clouds and stars and an ominous figure with billowing robes and skeletal hands. Zekar. He stepped to the next carved pillar, sweeping his eyes over the scene before him. Mountains and churning earth, a man with a staff in hand, his skin cracked as if formed from the earth itself. Ignis. The other carved pillars were on the opposite side of the platform and he stared at them longingly.
Rand laughed. “Beautiful, aren’t they? There will be plenty of time to see them, but for now, let’s get on our way. Come.”
Peeling himself away from the pillars, he followed after the others. The path they took was a simple one. The trees and underbrush had been cleared back, leaving a trail just wide enough for two people to walk side by side. As he walked, the heat of the jungle became oppressive. Sweat made his clothes, clothing made to fare through the chilled mornings and nights of Taverin, cling to his body. He became increasingly uncomfortable and it became apparent why Rand wore the clothing he did. The fabric of his clothing seemed designed to breathe, to allow air to whisk through and keep the body cool. He made a mental note to see about trading in his clothing for something similar.
“Sharmir, as I’m sure you’ve noticed, has few defenses. Aside from the treacherous terrain and oft deadly wildlife, we’ve little keeping us from the outside world,” Rand explained, guiding them towards the base of a cliff, vines twisting over the rocky surface. “We’ve had to rely on some unusual methods to keep this place safe. Please do not be alarmed.”
As they approached the cliff Garild slowed but Rand kept his steady pace. He disappeared into the rocks in the blink of an eye, there one moment and gone the next. While everyone else seemed to be in varying states of confusion, Barog laughed. “I see Samira is still up to her old tricks,” he said. He stepped forward and leapt towards the wall, disappearing just as Rand had before him.
“Well, I guess we follow,” Isa said. “Shall we?”
She took several hesitant steps towards the rocky surface, only to have a hand dart out towards her, pulling her the rest of the way through in one swift tug. Garild and Trista followed. The illusion wavered as they slipped through, a slight glimmer in the air the only indication that anything was amiss.
Garild flipped around to inspect the illusion. It was different from the ones he’d learned back in Sanctuary. It was not merely in his mind, but expertly woven into the terrain itself. It didn’t make sense. “Who creates the illusions?”
Rand smiled. “That would be Samira. You can consider her a…protector of sorts. She works hard to keep this place hidden. Without a guide, it’s near impossible to find the way to the heart of Sharmir. Take a wrong turn, step through the wrong illusion, you may just find yourself flung off a cliff, dropped into a nest of Burrow Wogs, or end up stuck in a hole in the ground. She’s been very clever with her tricks.”
“But she’d have to be close at all times for something like this to work, wouldn’t she? These illusions are taking place right before our eyes,” Isa said, head tilted to the side as she studied the wall.
Rand hesitated. “It’s difficult to explain. Perhaps once you meet her it will make more sense. We’ve still got a way to go. We can speak more on this later. Come.”
Rand led the way with confidence, weaving through the jungle and leading them safely through the illusions they encountered. The trek required several interesting feats; walking through a tree, jumping into a pool of bubbling water, and throwing themselves off a cliff. It wasn’t a journey Garild hoped to repeat any time soon and he was surprised to see Isa grinning from ear to ear as they splashed, hopped, and jumped through the forest. It seemed to exhilarate her, her cheeks pink and eyes sparkling with excitement. Without meaning to, Garild grinned. It was nice to see her look happy, to see her so full of life. In Sanctuary, he’d seen her stripped of everything she was, left as nothing but an empty husk. He hadn’t thought she’d ever return to the girl she’d been before she’d lost her bond mate, but joy and happiness didn’t seem able to keep away from her. She caught his eye, her expression curious. “What?” she asked.
Garild shook his head, warmth flooding his cheeks. He hadn’t meant to be caught staring. “N-nothing. I guess… it’s just nice to see you be you.”
She smiled but said nothing, her eyes wandering back to the forest. He was happy she’d disregarded his comment. He felt foolish enough.
As they stepped from a thicket of trees, there was a collective gasp. A building of creamy white stone rose high in the distance. It was circular, much like the river station, but it stood much taller. The double doors into the building were large and pearlescent, crafted from what looked to be some sort of beautiful shell. Behind the building rose a rocky crag, waterfalls cascading over its face. They formed a pool at the base of the cliff, creating a moat of sorts around the building.
“Welcome to Sharmir,” Rand said. “This is one of our meeting halls. It is where we come to interact with one another, to take meals, and talk about our studies. There are many, many buildings just like this one, all with their own purpose.”
“This place is beautiful,” Isa sighed.
Rand nodded in agreement. “That it is. Please, follow me.”
They followed Rand across a covered bridge, either end hosting carved pillars greatly inspired by the stunning landscape surrounding them. The pearlescent doors were even more beautiful up close, swirling with creamy whites and pinks and gold. Rand pushed open one of the doors, leading them into a circular room. In the center of the room, a massive pillar took up most of the space, rising high into the floors above. It too was carved, a beautiful melding of elegant lines and delicate flowers. Around the central pillar, a staircase wound its way to the upper floors. The room was simply furnished, a few chairs and tables scattered throughout. Plants with bright green leaves and exotic looking flowers lent color and fragrance to the room. The crispness and simplicity of it all reminded him of Sanctuary. I
t was strange the things that reminded him of home, stranger still how much he missed it.
A few people stood about the room, some reading, others talking amongst themselves. They all stopped what they were doing and cast a curious glance in their direction. Visitors were a rarity in Sharmir, especially since smuggling had all but ceased. They were outsiders, an alien presence in a tranquil land. It was no wonder they stared.
A sprightly woman came bounding towards them, her bright yellow dress flowing behind her. Her hair was wavy and blonde, and dark eyes the color of chocolate twinkled with delight as she took in the strangers before her. “Rand. Either my eyes betray me or we have visitors here.”
Rand gave her a slight bow. “Your eyes do not betray you, love. This lot has come seeking refuge from Taverin.”
“And is that Barog? Well, that would explain how you all got here. Only a very foolish man would make that journey, especially with how dire things are right now.”
Barog grinned. “Ah, my dearest Ella. You know me too well. A fool I am, but without me, these three would be lost, their lives thrown to the wolves. They owe me much for saving them.”
Behind him, Isa and Trista groaned. Ella gave them a knowing smile.
Garild rolled his eyes, feeling more than ready for a moments respite from the sailor. “We weren’t fleeing, exactly. We’re here to make a delivery. I have other reasons for being here, but they are purely academic.”
“Well, you’re in the right place,” Ella said. “I won’t bombard you with questions right now. You all must be very tired. I’ll fetch you some refreshments while Rand gets you settled. I’m Ella, by the way. If you need anything at all, just ask.” She turned, lifting herself on the tips of her toes to kiss Rand on the cheek. He gave a curt cough, his cheeks tinged red as she pranced away.
“I apologize. My wife-”
“Bah, nonsense friend,” Barog said, clapping him on the shoulder. “She’s a fine woman. Don’t ever be ashamed of such affection.”
Rand gave a quick nod. “Um, right. If you’ll follow me.”
They followed Rand up the winding staircase. Half of the second floor was dedicated to rows of tables. The other half was a small kitchen of sorts and the smell of spices drifted through the air. They were ushered to the tables and Garild took a seat reluctantly. Though he knew he would be in Sharmir for some time, there was so much he wanted to see. There were thousands of books waiting to be read in the great libraries and he was more than a little eager to get started.
It wasn’t until Ella returned with several baskets of warm bread and a variety of brightly colored fruit that he began to welcome the delay. He was famished and he’d long since become sick of the slop Barog had served on his ship. He wasn’t alone. The bread was gone just as soon as it’d been sat before them and contented sighs escaped his companions.
“That was much needed. Thank you,” Garild said, wiping the crumbs from his fingers. The others nodded in agreement.
“You’re quite the hungry travelers. No food on your ship?” Ella asked with a wink.
Barog looked offended. “I didn’t starve them along the way if that’s what you’re implying!”
“Well, you did something. Look at how hungry they were.” Before he could respond, she turned her eyes to Garild. “Rand said you had something to deliver. Who is it for, if you don’t mind me asking?”
Before Garild could open his mouth, Barog waved his hand in the air. “You know, I think we can probably talk about that later. We’re tired. It’s not something that needs to be discussed now.” He shot a look at Garild, one heavily implying he should keep his mouth shut.
There was a brief but noticeable glance between Ella and Rand. “I suppose that’s fair. We’ll discuss it when you’re ready. We’d be happy to help you find the recipient when the time comes,” she said. From the look she gave Barog, she wasn’t pleased with his sudden silence on the matter. “How about some introductions? Aside from Barog, you’re all new faces here.”
Garild found himself staring at the table as all eyes turned towards him. He tried not to stammer as he introduced Trista and Isa to the group and then himself. Interacting with people was still difficult. He’d spent months huddled in a house by himself and it was hard being around so many people.
Ella smiled sweetly. “A pleasure to meet all of you. I hope you’ll find an appreciation for Sharmir during your stay. It’s truly a place of wonder and beauty. Aside from that, we should probably speak of what to do with you all. It sounds like you intend to stay for some time. We’ll need to figure out a place for you to stay, as well as something for you to do. As much as we’d like for this to just be a charitable act, I’m afraid we require help in keeping this place afloat. A small measure of work for safety and security, you see.”
Trista gave an agreeable nod. “Of course. That wouldn’t be a problem. I don’t know if my services would be needed, but I myself am a skilled healer. My apprentice, Isa, is also quite gifted and could be of use.”
“I’ll have to speak with our healer, Rel. It’s quite possible he needs some extra hands. For being a bunch of scholars, we still do deal with our fair share of illness and broken bones. I blame all the stairs. So many stairs.”
Garild opened his mouth to add to the conversation but a sound stopped him. It was faint, just loud enough to be distracting, and he focused on it, head swiveling as he tried to pinpoint the source. It was a loud buzzing, a steady hum of sound that cut through him, made his muscles tense with fear. He’d heard such a sound before, back when he’d fled Sanctuary with Kirheen. Deep within the stones of an ancient cave something had lived, had tried to pry its way into their minds. What is this? Why am I hearing this?
As if to answer his question, a woman appeared at the top of the steps. She was stunningly beautiful, all elegant lines and lethal grace, her skin a warm golden brown. Her dress, one of the darkest blue, left little to the imagination, hugging her curves tightly before high slits sent panels of fabric swirling around her exposed thighs. But it wasn’t her beauty that caught his eye. A gruesome scar ran from her collarbone and disappeared between her breasts. A line of strange, crystalline protrusions glowed faintly down the length of the scar, as if they had somehow forced their way to the surface from beneath her skin.
Power pulsated off of her in waves, amplifying the terrible sound ripping through his skull. Her eyes, impossibly dark pools, studied him as she approached, pulled him into that sound until it was consuming him. He wanted to drink of that power, to taste of it, and yet it frightened him. He wanted to run, to hide, to cower away from it but it held him captive. He was caught in a terrifying place between fight and flight and he couldn’t bring himself to move. His muscles screamed for release, screamed at him to run, but he was powerless to obey the commands of his own mind.
There was something slipping over his barriers, white threads coaxing through his mental wall. “Quit fighting it,” an amused voice warned. “Quite fighting or you’ll tear yourself apart. Focus past the sound.”
He breathed deep, letting the voice guide him past that deadly hum. The sound shifted and changed. It became a melody, a soft siren song whispering beautiful hymns in his mind. His eyes refocused and he saw the whole table staring at him. Isa was wide-eyed and trembling, her forehead covered in sweat. And the woman, the one that had approached, she stood at the head of the table, a wry smile twisting her full lips. She tilted her head to the side, a few raven curls falling into her face, dark eyes studying him before moving to Isa.
“How interesting,” she said with a flash of white teeth. “It seems our guests have the gift.”
CHAPTER 15
Kirheen was swallowed by darkness, the bearish bulk of Burk wrapping her in a warm abyss. He released her and stepped back, smiling brightly. “Well, if it isn’t you two. What in the name of the Allseer are you doing out this way?”
Abby gave him a sharp nudge with her elbow. “Burk,” she hissed and glanced around the room nervously, se
eking out anyone that might have overheard.
“Sorry, it’s a habit,” he muttered and rolled his eyes.
“Yeah, one that’s going to get us all-”
“-I know, I know. Yeesh, calm down.”
Kirheen couldn’t help but smile. Even after all they’d been through, the two of them still found bickering their favorite past time. Burk turned away from Abby with an exaggerated twist, arms crossed over his chest, and started up a conversation with Tomias. Defeated, Abby turned towards Kirheen. “He’ll never change.”
“Did you really expect him to?” Kirheen teased.
“Well, I figured Sanctuary might have knocked a little sense into that thick skull of his, but I might have been hoping for too much. It’s good to see you. Surprising, actually. What are you doing out this way?” She faltered over the question, eyes wandering to where Fay worked behind the bar.
“We’re traveling.”
“I figured that much,” she said. “Traveling where?”
“We’ll be heading south after this.”
Abby’s eyes widened. “Just how far south?” Kirheen didn’t answer and didn’t need to. She could see the frown forming, could see the disapproval in her eyes, could hear it in her voice. “Are you really sure that’s such a good idea?”
“I’m not going to try and explain this. I’m not going to have this argument. Not now.”
Fay perked up, setting the glass she’d been cleaning down with a sharp clank. “Pardon the interruption, dears. Perhaps a private room could be arranged,” she said, wiping her hands on her apron. Abby gave her a suspicious glare but Kirheen grabbed her shoulder and nodded.
“That would be great, Fay. Thank you,” Kirheen said. Fay gave a slight bow and stepped out from behind the bar. They all followed her down a hall and she opened a door, revealing a cozy sitting room with a few overstuffed chairs and a comfortable looking couch, worn with age. A table, marred by imperfections, took up the center of the room and Kirheen nearly tripped over it as she went to snag a chair. Burk and Abby claimed the couch and they sat close enough to each other to fill Kirheen with glee.
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