Age of Souls

by Garrett Stevens

  “Wait!” A small voice came from a large fern on their right just as they were about to head toward the first tent. Faer quickly drew his sword pointing it at the conversational plant before anyone could blink.

  “Show yourself.” Faer spoke very direct with the extension of the blade.

  “Please Mr. Faer, we must keep quiet.” A slight ruffle of the fern exposed and a small Elven child who gently pushed her way out from under the larger fern. “The patrol passes by every twenty minutes; it should be by soon.”

  The child stretched out her arm to pull them down to her and hide. Without a thought, Mya and Faer both quickly let their guard down and knelt to conceal themselves from view.

  “How long have you been here child?” Mya looked down it as she spoke softly.

  “Almost been two days. I was out at the market when the Darke drums came over the ridge.” Mya placed a hand on the girl’s shoulder. “I am sorry you have to see me like this my lady.” The child gave a sheepish and awkward curtsey in her crouched state.

  Her dress had rips all over, likely from her run into hiding in a thorn infested hedging. Covered in dirt and mud, what little yellow coloring that used to be, had sullied into a faint brown and dry grey. Her short brown hair still had a shine to it that had a sparkle still in shadows of the canopy. The child would brush loose strands of it behind her ear frequently, hoping to not have it linger long enough to stick to her face. With one misty blue eye and one deep purple, they carried a fear that Faer knew only her mother could control. Streaks stained her smooth elven face from tears she had previously never wiped away. Her little shoes had two straps across the top of her feet buckled into a leather claps on the outside that held in her bare feet.

  “What is your name little one?” Mya had seen this girl before throughout the castle and the city, it was the eyes that gave her away, but never knew who she was. She had seen her helping her father at the blacksmith most days, giving customers back their change and weapons, the ones she could lift.

  “Breen Guuri, your Highness.” Breen stood tall as she could under the foliage as she spoke, trying to give her enough height to come eye to eye with Mya. The strength in her was admirable for being is this far out of the palace walls during the circumstances. Mya smiled and kept her hand on the child’s shoulder.

  In an optimistic tone, Mya tried to bolster her spirits. “Well Madam Breen, what can you tell us about this mess?”

  “Not very much my lady, ever since I heard the drums and those brutes came over the hill, I have been in these bushes. I was out collecting Harmin for father and was able to hide before they saw me. I’m really worried about my father my lady, all of the people that were in the market were not able to be pulled behind the walls, before.” Breen sniffled and rubbed her nose to catch a drip. “I have some food that I have been rationing, but very thirsty.”

  “You certainly are a smart girl, and a brave one for sticking it out this long.” Faer sheathed his blade slowly, without a sound and shifted his weight to his other foot to free up the space to grab his flask. Mya watched him through the corner of her eyes and nodded slightly as he handed Breen the stomach shaped leather water container.

  “You are very brave Breen, but I am going to have to ask you to be once again. Can you do that for me?” Mya looked at the small elf child who nodded and stood up straight again. “I need you to stick close to Faer. You have to stay close and move with him, like his shadow.” Breen nodded again looking up at Faer.

  Sounds of marching could be heard in the distance that jerked the three of them down into a lower crouch. Looking through the brush together, keeping their lips pierced and holding their breath, trying to not make a sound. Mya put her arm around Breen and hugged her close to her body. Faer kept his hand on his hilt and scanned through his narrow field of vision. He could see the field beyond near the gates, still full of the invading army.

  Siege marks could be made out against the stone walls of the palace; holes in some of the stone or scorch marks from a spell or fireball. The sounds of marching came louder and louder until a group of ten lightly armored goblins trotted into the line of vision. They were all well equipped for a scout squad. Weapons looking to be recently crafted and their leather armor newly stitched.

  The pace the goblins carried did not show any sign of them being warned, never slowing from the front to back as they passed and then finally disappeared behind another peninsula of brush to the far side.

  “We have time to move, they won’t be back for another half hour after they loop back up to the ridge.” Breen pushed her way to the fringe of their hiding spot, keeping low.

  “Then we best be on the move. This tree line loops around the lower basin field which we can follow to the south city wall lake.” Mya followed Breen out from the bush, keeping her eyes the direction the goblins ran.

  “We should wait a moment before we follow them, keep our distance until we get closer to the city.” Faer spoke a little louder as he came out from the bushes. His pack caught on a branch pulling him back off balance slightly making the two girls chuckle at the face he made.

  Walking slowly toward open terrain, Mya with Breen and Faer close behind, kept themselves low to the ground, crouched while still being able to move swiftly. Mya scanned the field quickly to make sure they were in the clear and turned to check the goblin path. From the countless times that they had already passed by this location, a track had already worn into the earth, only small amounts of grass could be seen in the footprints.

  “Remember to stick close to Faer.” Mya turned toward Breen and smiled with her order, getting a sturdy nod from the child.

  In a brisk walk, Mya kept herself hunched over and kept scanning the horizon for any hostile movement. Breen had shuffled in behind Faer, who was close enough to trip if he staggered his pace. Copying his every movement she kept her eyes on his back and feet as to not trip.

  The speed they moved was a lot quicker than the goblin scouts had been and would catch up if they were not careful. It was not long before they could see the scouts, the small dust cloud that trailed gave them away. Mya slowed her pace to match the off coloured troops speed so not to catch up with them to remove the chance to catch up and not be seen. Faer almost ran into her which caused Breen to bump into him. Catching herself on his tunic, she grabbed hold of it before making any noise or falling back to the ground.

  Looking to where they were, Breen poked her head around Faer’s waist. “They will cut across the field now, towards the trees with the trail up to the ridge.” Breen whispered.

  Mya nodded once to confirm she heard her and winked back at her in a glance. The three slowed once again and were basically walking, allowing them to get lower to the ground in their movements.

  “We can hide over in that tree cluster while they get up into the ridge. They will have a full view of where we are.” Faer kept his voice low and pointed over Mya’s shoulder to a grouping of birch trees having a break next to a mirrored pond.

  There was a sizable growth around the trees base that would provide ample coverage for everyone. With another nod Mya altered her course slightly and sped up, closing the gap between them and the trees.

  “Take cover here.” Mya pointed off toward a small cluster of foliage. “I will follow the scouts further up and see if I can learn anything more.”

  Faer nodded.

  “After I am gone, the pond at the top of the stream that connects to the lake is where you need to go. I will meet up with you there. Don’t go in until I get back.” Mya crouched down beside where Faer and Breen stood. Before Faer could say anything, Mya turned and left their hiding spot.

  “Don’t worry, she knows what she is doing. She won’t be long.” Faer placed a hand on the little Elf’s shoulder. “Keep close to me and we will be up to the pond in no time.”

  An eerie silence covered the valley, not a sound came from any of the skirmishes littering along the wall of the city. Breen huddled close to Faer, she could bar
ely see through the leaves to make out the wall of the city, they were a lot closer than she expected but still hard to see it.

  Her stomach gave a small grumble in detest of the lack of food, she clenched at her dress with both her hands to try to quiet it before scowling her disapproval. Looking up at Faer who gave her a small reassuring smile and placing his hand on her should for the extra support. He was able to stand straight up without fear of being seen, they were in the perfect hiding place.

  With the limited view she had, Breen spotted the scouts crossing the top ridge as they passed between trees. Focusing on the gap, she saw a snap image of Mya trailing behind them. Watching as she got close to the scout party and suddenly stopped by a large boulder, kneeling to steady herself. A flicker of light came from the boulder where Mya rest, she had a small object that reflected the morning sun toward them, catching Breen in the eye, forcing her to blink away.

  “That was for us, let’s go.” Faer picked Bren up by the waist before she could respond and stepped out of their concealment.

  Putting the child on her feet as he walked made her trip slightly, but she quickly recovered and caught up to his stride best as she could. Faer’s movements looked awkward as he tip toed his way toward the city walls, trying not to make noise with everything he carried. She did not notice it before when they were tailing the goblins but with this new discovery, it made it hard for her not to giggle to herself as she followed him up to a small stream.

  “We are a little way to the pond, but when we get there, we will have to get wet.” Faer spoke over his shoulder to receive an unimpressed reaction from the girl.

  • • •

  Mya made her way through the brush without noise, an invisible force. Holding back branches and dodging anything that would make noise on the ground came so fluidly to her. The scouting party was not that far ahead, and any little mistake would make for a world of trouble. Following them was easier than she expected for a scout squad; they were not trying to keep themselves concealed with the way they crashed through the forest. The path they were on was noticeably used multiple times; branches broken all over, and the path had worn down with all the foot traffic.

  Working their way back to the main army camp, their speed made the trek take no time at all. Unexpectedly, the scout pack banked off and made their pursuit down toward the palace and back into the open valley. The route they took was quite close to the tents. Mya stopped next to a larger tree and watched their line veer off back the way they came. Pushing off from her rested leg to stand, she knew she had time and watched their dust fade around a peninsula of greenery.

  Turning her head toward the camp, a lively loud collection of sneezing and snarling beasts echoed between the fabrics of the temporary city. The aroma it carried grew in waves, offensive to the senses with the scents of sweaty mire dwellers, uncleaned humanoid creatures pulled from the marshes of the North. The Darke Elf nation was likely the best smelling of the bunch, being of a noble house and a more civilized accommodation.

  The odd child squire could be seen running from tent to tent with random items; messages, food, or the odd sack. Watching intently, an opening appeared and in a stealthy flurry, sprang from the tree line toward the closest tent. Listening and calculating her openings, Mya was able to circle around the fabrics quietly and move from point to point with a deathly haste.

  Coming across litters of hunted wild life bones, pots, packs, torn flags, chunks of wood, discarded weapons. Anything imaginable that would come from a raiding army was strewn about with no regard to order; things being propped up against crates and tents, or laying on the ground, sinking in the mud. Campfires and food spits lay cold and empty with the coals barely smoldering from the night’s anger before. They had been here awhile. Mya glided along the muddy ground, barely sinking into the muck as she moved. Death was on the prowl, determined with a purpose.

  Reaching the inner camp, the housing structures and layout changed; regale in fashion, a proper arrangement of storage, more organization of colour. Her focus intensified, she was in the heart of the beast and required a keener collection of senses for anything that could sneak up on her. Her childish game of red-light green light with the tents started again and she quickly reached the center tent.

  “Grand Marshall, the Gurge is finally ready. What is your order?” An orcish voice made Mya stop in her tracks next to one of the corners.

  “About time. Give the order, and this time don’t mess it up. I expect it to be in the same spot.” Grinn’s voice was all too familiar. The low calm tone gave him away. “And Captain, make sure those trolls know what they are doing. I won’t accept their failure another time. We can’t afford for them to attack the wrong troops again.” There was a clash of steel on steel with the Captain’s salute. Footsteps slopped and slurped through the mud as he left the command tent.

  Creeping to one of the pegs on the back side of the tent, Mya gently loosened the stake that held the cloth down. The motion was almost instant and took little effort, no motion in the tent wall made her smile to herself. Grinn’s sounds of pacing could be heard on a wooden floor, his movements shuffled between the far side and the wall she was closest to. His pacing stopped on the far side; Mya cocked her head slightly to listen.

  With a nod to herself with the inspiration speech in her head, she lifted the flap and slid between the fabrics like a ghost. The dead space between the outer and inner draped walls made for a perfect hiding place, easily hidden from anyone inside or out. The Grand Marshall’s shadow could be barely seen through the inner sheets, shifting against a small light somewhere inside. He was huddled over a table, looking at something.

  Watching the rise and fall of his breathing, Mya counted to herself and in a single ghostly movement, perfectly timed with his breathing, she slipped through a slit in the fabrics and knelt beside a large wooden cot covered in furs, still messy from the night before, some slumping off each side tickling the floor. The room was minimalistic for a commanding office; they had obviously come in a rush and not expected to stay long.

  She was close. It was all too easy. With one very quick but very quiet motion, Mya lunged from her hiding spot. A flash from under her cloak and her dagger was instantly under his throat. Being shorter than he was, she was still able to keep her offensive hold over him.

  “Hello little one.” His voice still calm, still low. He was not afraid.

  “Why have you come back Grinn?” Aggressively yet quiet she threatened.

  “I heard you died last spring on Mount Guul. I must say, I am a little surprised.” Grinn’s voice kept his tone civil.

  “Still alive, the Leeman’s were nice enough in the end. Why did you come back?” Her tone became harsher.

  “Uridine has made his mistakes and there must be a right. With you gone, Baldur saw an opening to take back which is his. The opportunity could not be missed.”

  “You are not even of the Officials, why would they allow you to lead this hilarious excuse of an army?”

  “Darke council has changed, there was some. Restructuring.” Grinn slowly spun to face her. His calm face raised no warning of offensive intention but still Mya held firm with her blade, allowing the movement but remaining on his throat.

  His face was clean with black eyes and black hair that seemed to have a blue tint in both. Spiked hair head matched his armour at places with the odd protrusion. Almost black from head to toe, trying to be death, knocking on their door. Gold inlays throughout his breastplate and pauldrons gave a royal appearance.

  “You were here, learning from Turi. What happened to you Grinn?” Mya pressed the blade a little harder against his pale skin, making him wince slightly in his eyes.

  “I was tired of the way I was treated throughout the city, the palace. The opportunity to get rid of the grief, the vein of disappointment that the old mage and that dreadful place put on me.” His tone dropped to be more serious, to the warrior she knew he was. “Uridine will fall, and not you or your pitiful excus
e of an old mage will not get in my way.”

  Mya’s anger bubbled as she stared into his void coloured eyes. Grinn glared at her through his black eyes stoked with fire and with a second flash, the dagger disappeared. Grinn’s eyes widened, engulfed by the void that they were, his killer’s reflection, filled with hate and anger burned into their blackness.

  Pulling the small knife from his throat, blood oozed from his neck and drained into his cuirass. The wound was perfect; silent and deep enough to deliver the fatal damage without sound or spray. Holding him for a moment, Mya helped him to the ground and pulled her blade from his flesh. Placing his head on the planked flooring, blood crept out of his armour and started to pool around his head. The last breath of his life gurgled past a mouthful of blood and she knew it was over.

  “Dunea frus dae luik, name frae duk laiy graih wathra. Guntra!” A booming voice rang out over the camp. Sounds of the massing engagement rose through the air, the Darke lands purge had begun.

  “Sounds like your war has started without you Marshall.” Mya muttered at the corpse at her feet and smirked.

  • • •

  The palace walls, which were made mostly of larger boulders, blended and started to turn into bedrock. The stone for the wall was carried from them been carved out of the mountain itself. With the palace being mostly mountain block and bedrock, it was typically a wonder to those who visited how the Elves got it all done without the help of the Dwarves.

  The colouring of the rock used varied from black to a broad spectrum of dark greens. With no patterns, it fit together as though the greens were the veins of a living stone beast, sleeping for eternity. If you focused on it long enough, you could see the life force pulsing against the sun.

  Faer and Breen sat on a couple of boulders next to the small pond that sat at the base of the ever-growing mountains. The still black water had a small eerie feeling to it. No life or nature rippled the water, not even the stream that came from the mountain.