Age of Souls

by Garrett Stevens

  “Thank you Talken.” R’nuuk dropped a coin in one of his hands as he took the pouch. “Please come back in four nights, I will have another errand for you.” Talken only nodded before turning and disappeared into the night. Closing the door, R’nuuk gleefully prancing back to his seat.

  “An errand?” Dominic queried.

  “He is a good boy, does well where it counts.”

  Pulling on the thin leather strings tying the pouch together and lifting the pouch from the bottom, R’nuuk’s face lit up with excitement as the contents spilled out onto his lap.

  “What is it?” Dominic took a sip of his tea.

  Holding up a small coin between his two fingers, he smiled at Dominic.

  “It’s about time this came, I wonder how he got it.” R’nuuk shifted in his seat trying to contain his excitement.

  “It’s a coin.” Dominic sank back into his chair, not hiding any disappointment

  “It’s not just any coin my dear boy, it’s a Spiri Control Coin. Here look.” R’nuuk tossed the coin at him making him almost spill his tea.

  “Careful.” Dominic fished the coin from the folds of the blanket draped around his legs and held it up to his face.

  It was a silver coin with small flecks of a tarnish scattered about it to give it a very old feeling. The small lettering around the edges was either badly worn away or missing but the engraving in the middle was still thick. A woman on her knees with her face in her hands, like she was crying, sitting on her feet and carried large wings that flourished behind her. There was little detail left due to the age of the coin, but you could easily make out what it was. The other side carried a small gauntlet with each finger a little bit more unfurled then the last, like it had been holding something.

  “What is a Control Coin?” Dominic flipped it around again to look it over a second time.

  “Some say the Spiri use them to control ancient mechanical like objects within their city, within their vaults. Others claim that they are prizes for those who best a Spiri in combat that are not able to attain the armour; a symbol of a true hunter, a true warrior. No one alive truly knows their purpose, but they do have a special conductivity for my experiments.” R’nuuk clapped his hands gently in hopes to get the coin back.

  “Like an electrical current?” Dominic tossed the coin at him.

  “No, but yes. More spiritual energies.”

  “What kind of experiments would you be doing with the spirits, let alone a Spiri’s?” Dominic’s question made R’nuuk raise an eyebrow.

  “Perfectly safe ones. I assure you.”

  “We have known each other for a few millennia now, somehow I doubt that.” Dominic took a sip of his tea and raised an eyebrow at him.

  “Been playing with amplifiers for magical energies mostly. Have tried the flowers of the Undergrowth from the Narx, scales from the Dragons themselves, ritual powders from the Lamia to the South, sea stones from the bottom of the Veins near Stallguard to the West, water from the Iceclaw glacier, requested augmented harmin oils from the Gnomes, and used the hearts from the tribes in the East. Nothing helps.” R’nuuk’s fidgeting was starting to get more intense as he spoke, the frustration in his list added to his motions.

  “That’s it?” Dominic chuckled.

  “You try and get some of these materials without consequences and see where it takes you!”

  “Calm down old man. What is this coin supposed to do?”

  “I have been trying for one of these for almost fifteen hundred years. I came close to one when I visited Spiringlaive back when they let outsiders through the gates, but they are guarded almost better than the Mother herself. Thus my surprise about the boy.”

  “He’s just a little street rat.” Dominic looked at the closed door.

  “Talken is a member of the Sigil, I don’t ask questions.” R’nuuk shrugged again.

  “Thought they gave up on most things after the War of Twenty.”

  “They have a few motivations that are around. Talken was taken in at a young age but I was able to keep close as he grew up. Nice to know a few people in dark places these days.”

  “Speaking of the Sigil, a raiding party burnt down Tarna before we made it here. They were looking for some relic and were heading to Mount Guul.” Dominic looked down at his empty cup before placing it on the stack of books beside him.

  “Probably after Necrolin’s Cup, have been for a while.” R’nuuk’s fidgeting stopped entirely and his mood became very serious. “You two should make your way to the Iceclaws then. Talk with Thron-din before heading South to Murdone.”

  Giving him a questioning look Dominic chuckled “Trying to kick us out already?” Dominic chuckled again.

  “Not sure if it sank in, but with the seals breaking, time is not a luxury.” His tone was still very serious.

  “I know.” Dominic frowned at his empty cup.

  Chyla could be heard through the ceiling as she got louder and drew their attention to the ceiling.

  “You need to be off early in the morning. It is a half day walk to the North Gate and then another three through the Stone Giant Forest, if you take the right path.” R’nuuk talked as he looked upward.

  “Should be fine if it hasn’t changed since my last visit and if she can keep herself out of her own pants while we walk.” Dominic eyed the ceiling above him. “We need to talk with Xen before we go North though.”

  “One of the other Children will help with that, I am sure.” R’nuuk paused before finishing his own tea. “Be careful with that man, he’s changed since the civil war.”

  R’nuuk set his cup down on the table beside him before standing. He rolled the Spiri coin in his palm a final time before putting it back into the small pouch and placed it in his pocket.

  “Get some sleep, the morning will be here soon. I will likely be gone when you two wake, so be sure to close the door behind you.”

  “Thanks again R’nuuk, you are good friend.” Dominic smiled at him.

  R’nuuk smiled back and nodded before skirting his chair and disappeared behind the kitchen wall. A gentle noise of a latch closing rang through the cluttered home and everything fell silent. Dominic looked around and shook his head at the mess of books and papers before furling his eyebrow at the noises coming from above him.

  His eyes became heavy as he sat in silence, the warmth of the tea taking over his body and relaxing his muscles. Resting his head against the back of the couch, he closed his eyes and quickly fell into a deep sleep.

  Chapter 13

  Daybreak quickly flooded into the valley. The jungle trees rustling against the morning breeze while the light stretched across the canopy. Few clouds filled the blue ocean above the trees which slowly started to fade from the growing heat. The circling mountain range glared down at lost valley and the flat-topped mesa’s jutting from the lush greenery, mocking them with every movement of shadows. Very few noises carried across the wind with it being early and most creatures not being ready to start their day.

  The six winged women were already awake and planning their moves for the morning. Gemini still lay on the ground resting, deep in thought of what transpired over the past day and how she came to be where she was and how she was.

  “You will be able to control your armour soon, it takes time to learn. You should get up off the ground though, good way to catch cold.” Marthiel spoke softly with her hand on Gemini’s shoulder.

  Blinking a few times while starring at the far wall, Gemini slowly took in the lookout cave in the new light. She had not dreamt about the new set of clothing she dawned, or the lack there of. All the other Spiri were moving around in a full body plate that made her a little jealous.

  Each set of armour moved on its own, a living thing protecting its wearer. Each was unique with a beauty and dangerous aura about it. Forming around the woman, praising the curves and hugging their body making them that much more beautiful.

  The outfit she wore was the same as the day before, the living and mov
ing steel banding that barely covered any of her body at any one point in time; shifting around like snakes chasing each other around her body. There was no reasoning behind their movement and often circled back to cover her breasts and crotch, but quickly moved on to other parts of skin, exposing everything else to the morning air.

  “It will be a few hours walk to the village, so we can take our time.” Marthiel stood with a smile and turned to Sara, who sat close by on a boulder. “When will the Tanlin and Rittle get back?”

  “Should be soon, we can wait until then.” Sara nodded with her response.

  “What do you mean, control my armour?” Gemini asked before sitting upright.

  “Your armour is a living thing, connected to your body, your mind, your soul. You must learn to focus on the connection to be able to help it react with you.” Kershin spoke loudly from behind Gemini making her stretch around to look at her.

  “For example.” Marthiel turned to face Gemini. “If I am in no need of protection, I can relax.” Marthiel’s steel covered body quickly spun around her body and began to disappear until the same banding as Gemini had remained, one around her breasts and the other around her waist. There was a thin connection between two straps that moved around her mid-section.

  “But if we are in need of protection.” As quick as it had been removed, the armour came back and covered her whole body to the spiked clean steel that it was before. The colouring had changed to be a dark purple that shifted on the edges to different shades as it moved. “All you need to do is to think what you need with it and it does the rest.”

  “Seems simple enough.” Gemini smiled.

  “After enough practice, it becomes more of a reactionary extension of yourself, your will. A Spiri will die if they lose their armour, so you must learn to control it fast.” Sara held a stern tone.

  Gemini stood from the ground and brushed off her backside and legs before stretching. She needed a bath to get clean, no amount of brushing was going to get her where she wanted to be. Looking down at herself, she shook her head at being next to naked and standing in a strange cave with a bunch of strange women. Closing her eyes in thought, she stood still for a moment before opening her eyes to the same small bands moving around her.

  “Am I supposed to feel this connection, or talk to it in my mind?” Gemini directed her question at Marthiel, the only one smiling at her.

  “You can’t talk to it, it doesn’t have a voice. It may be moving but it is not really alive. It’s a connection to your soul, like your arms or legs are to your body. Your brain tells your arm to move, you need to connect your soul to the armour so that it can tell it how to move. Think deep inside, be relaxed and feel the movement of the armour, will it to move.” Marthiel sounded very optimistic.

  Gemini closed her eyes again, resting herself in deep focus and breathing slowly. Moments passed and still nothing felt like it was happening until a warming sensation took hold of her body. As she opened her eyes, she noticed that the group of three in front of her had a coy look on their faces. Glancing down at her body in hopes to be fully covered, all she could see was a small bundle of the living steel running back and forth across her privates. She instantly went red in embarrassment and covered herself.

  “No need to cover up my dear, you have been almost naked this entire time.” Sara laughed as she spoke.

  “Looks like you had other things on your mind.” Marthiel laughed as well. “You will get the hang of it, takes a bit of time to get a feel for it.”

  Tanlin appeared on the edge of the cave. “Everything looks clear down there. Koad have all run off, no scouts remain.”

  Sara gave her a nod before she jumped back down the ledge and disappeared.

  “Shall we?” Sara motioned with her hand to get Gemini started. “Marthiel will help you get to the ground quicker, we should be able to get to the village before the sun hits midday.”

  Marthiel nodded and slid an arm around Gemini’s shoulders to coax her toward the ledge. Letting her embarrassment slip away, Gemini stood up straight and focused on the open air leading to the drop. She could feel the living armour shift around her and get back to its original state of banding crawling around her as Marthiel pulled her along to the edge.

  “Just hold onto my waist and I can get us down.” Marthiel gave her a smile with a friendly nod.

  The two clasp their bodies together and before Gemini could get another breath in, they were off the edge and gently parachuting their way to the ground. Looking side to side, Marthiel’s wings were stretched wide like a bird coming in for a landing, collecting as much air as possible; two massive plumes’ gracefully carrying them to the jungle floor.

  “See. Easy.” Marthiel let her go and gave her another warming smile. “Keep working on the armour as we walk, you will get it.”

  Gemini nodded and smiled back. “Thanks”

  “Mother, this way.” Rittle and Tanlin spoke at the same time and waved her over to the edge of the clearing.

  Checking where the Skkooh stood the night before, little bits of ash could be made out covering parts of the foliage and floating in the morning moisture. The curiosity of why it was so afraid of the relic or why they were only here and hunting the Spiri filled her head, causing her to delay long enough to be called again.

  With a solid landing behind her, Sara spun around in a torrent of her own feathers before resting them neatly behind her. It was amazing how compact she could get them and how expansive they were during flight. Gemini shook off the thought and turned to the twins, beckoning her.

  With every step the jungle became thicker but somehow kept the light of the morning. Birds and critters scurried around making hurrying noise as they came; welcoming sounds that trouble was not around. The massive mesa beside them stretched tall into the sky and pushed back against the encroaching jungle which gave them more room to maneuver through the forest.

  Gemini would stumble from time to time as she walked while trying to focus on communicating with her armour and only met with the odd laugh from Kershin, who was walking behind. Very little was happening to the living steel, she became frustrated, gave up, and started taking in the environment. Calculating the three in front of her, Gemini homed in on parts of their armour, trying to see if there was anything she could learn. It just looked alive, moving on its own, subtly shifting about their bodies.

  “Welcome home Mother, the village welcomes you.” Gemini almost bumped into Tanlin before noticing that she had stopped to talk to her.

  “Village?” Gemini looked beyond her to see more jungle but also to see the edge of a second mesa standing close by.

  “Up.” Tanlin laughed and point up into the trees.

  Gemini followed her finger into the canopy to find a bustling wooden village scattered about the forest. Connecting rope bridges and wooden planks spanned between large wooden platforms from cleanly milled lumber. Little cottage like homes with thatched roofing and planked walls sat on each of the larger platforms that were built around the trunks of larger trees. Each platform looked to extend out further than what could be possible.

  Different elevations for the platforms scattered throughout the treetops, still connected by the same rope bridges or solid ramps that carried the other Spiri as they moved about their day. Each one that passed carried a different look about them, different style of wing with hue and formation that matched the colour of steel moving about their body. Many had the same style of banding crawling about them as she did, making her feel a little less self-conscious about how she was dressed.

  “They’re back!” A voice called out over the canopy and the hustle of the village became more excited as handfuls of Spiri made their way to the edges to see.

  “Call the Elder, we will need to speak with her.” Sara called up and waved.

  “Elder Yvane might be able to help with your control of the armour. She is one of the oldest of us.” Marthiel smiled her gentle smile as she spoke.

  A similar rope that they
used at the cliff cave dropped nearby which was quickly grabbed by Tanlin. Wrapping it around her foot and stomping down as an anchor, she waved over to Rittle. Skipping over, she quickly scaled up the rope, obviously had done this many time before, and was at the top in no time. Sara and Kershin followed shortly after, getting up just as fast.

  “Your turn Gemini.” Marthiel placed a hand on the small of her back and gave her a light push towards it. Gemini gave her a little look, something felt different being called her actual name over Mother.

  Grabbing the rope, she could feel her body get lighter again. The ropes enchantment made her feel like she could take on anything. Her body was still tired from before and still was a small struggle to get up the rope. Hand over hand she made her way to the top and finally received help once she reached a small opening in the platform. Coming face to face with a few dozen other winged women, all beautiful, all graceful, all smiling at her and bore the magnificent wings and living steel banding.

  Everyone’s face was that of a different race, pointed ears from the elves, human rounded faces, a couple half-orc but most had a half elf half human look to them. All had similar length of hair ending near the small of their back that was either braided or let run free. Every set of wings as majestic as the ones beside them, the Spiri were a beautiful collective.

  “Welcome home Mother.” A few random voices from the crowd echoed out with the same warming gentle tone as the first five she met.

  Gemini had a heavy feeling of being home.

  “Elder Yvane will be up in the hall with Elder Mara and Elder Ko-rin.” A nearby Spiri spoke with Sara and glanced over at Gemini with a nod. Sara reached out to Gemini and pulled her through the crowd.

  “Out of the way ladies. There will be plenty of time to talk with the new Mother.” Sara gave her demanding orders.