Thron-din’s words trailed into the flicker of the fire as Mya’s face filled with a sadness that spoke more than her words could. He only nodded his sympathy to her and turned to Chyla.
“Chyla Redlash, I have heard much about you. Lastly Mara Sintarre, you are one not fully known to me, sadly the circumstance is not in favour for our first meeting.” Each nodded or smiled back in their acknowledgment.
“Surprised you even knew my name.” Mara did a little curtsey.
Thron-din motioned to the tall slender woman on his right, “This is Dhaalj, ruler of the Kraiiq from Mudiirfjall. Burskij, King of the Tanalis coming from the tunnels of Curnashii.” Each smiled and nodded at the introductions.
“I am Xraxix, Song of the Marsh. My people, the Leeman’s from Keemiske sing of your welcome.” A shorter feline humanoid of a man dressed in simple leathers stood close to Thron-din’s left.
Each of the leathers had small inscriptions stenciled across it in a strange yet elegant language like a song being sung over his body. His clean features gave him a royal appearance which was topped with an elaborate weave of what looked to come from tree roots for a crown that held a large purple gem that slowly rotated within its setting. His body was covered in a short fur from head to toe and danced around in the air that circulated from the heat from the fire.
“Lastly, Xen’Cara, daughter of Xen’Renl.” Thron-din started her introduction.
“Ambassador from Xen’lo. Very happy to see you again Darling.” Kallis cut him off.
“Please, call me Cara.” Her voice was gentle, beautiful, seductive, and regal. It made her seem incredibly important in her words yet humble at the same time.
Flowing from the elegance of her voice, her appearance was much in the same. All six that were new to the fire couldn’t keep their eyes from her, she was one of the most beautiful things to be seen. She stood tall against the flickering fire, cupping her hands in front of her at her waist.
She wore a beautifully blue form fitting dress that extenuated the perfect curves of her body. A wedge of her olive skin could be seen bouncing back the fire from the long slit in the bottom of the dress that exposed the decorative strapping of her sandal footwear. Diamonds and gems tucked into the weave if her dress made everything about her glitter with beauty. Her long black hair was braided into a very complicated and very wide single braid that filled in most of her back down to just past her backside and was filled in with the same diamonds and gems as her dress. A single fist size diamond could be seen just behind her neck, braided into the design of her hair.
“You are the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.” Chyla couldn’t help herself from saying anything.
Xen’Cara smiled with a slow blink. “Thank you.”
“We are gathered from the six lands across Vulthrodin because the calamity we have been struggling to hold back is upon us. For the past three millennia, the Neightur have been picking away at the seals binding and creating the balance in High Realm and slowly fracturing their hold in our world. Sadly, Tulcarna was the last to fall and we must prepare for the bridge being open between realms and the torrent that will follow.” Thron-din took a long breathe, causing a silence in the space.
“Banding together is going to be the only way that High Realm will be able to remain. There are more Immortals than just the remaining Dragon Children. Hubrolin, Fafnolin, and Adepholin are the only of the eight that have never been with a host. With our recently passed, Eirolin will join them in Low Realm with the hope of returning. The seals will allow anything and everything to pass between the two realms; Old gods, new gods, creatures, residence, magic.” Thron-din trailed off.
“Is bad thing?” Burskij boasted.
“There is a benefit to having access to both our lands. There was a time when the bridge was always open, and all communities used it to benefit the strength of each sides people. There will be a constant war to fight for what is ours; for land, for power, for resources. The balance of magic and power will be offset with the seals gone and with the push from the Neightur to give that power to their unknown ruler, there will be waves of destruction.”
“These five were of a group of seven, they were entitled with the burden to get the relics back to the Elder Dragons to help them prepare for the impending shift in power. These relics would give their connection to High Realm a new life and allow new seals to placed and keep the Immortal Twenty’s power in check.” Thron-din trailed off again.
The crackle of the fire took over the silence in the room.
“What must we do?” Dominic broke into the quiet.
“Your goal remains the same; get to the Crucible and give the relics back to the Elders. The rest of us will need to make preparations for war, push back any fanatics that support the Neightur. The Eyeless and The Velt will need to be watched as well.”
“Our spies are still working on locating the fifth.” Dhaalj interjected. “Cut the head from the demon and the body will wither.”
“Where is your sister?” Thron-din asked Mya.
“The Sigil have her and are heading South.” Mya’s voice wavered with the emotion around her sibling.
“Even though it may seem a dark strategy, them engaging with her on their journey will work in favour. We can offer you all Krampan, speed your way to Murdone and match them at the Crucible.” Thron-din sounded a lot more optimistic. “Are all of the relics accounted for?”
“We have only this.” Mara pulled the small black urn like cup from her pack.
“Where is the map?” Thron-din furled his brow.
“Remains with Gemini.” Mara slouched slightly in regret.
“Then you will for sure need to beat them there.” Thron-din stepped back from the fire and lit a small bowl that rest on a ledge just outside the back wall. “Once you are there, there will be not much we can help with, you will be on your own. The souls of the Children will be your support.”
“What about the other relics?” Dominic asked.
A sound at the door made everyone turn to see a small child enter with two small boxes. With eyes on the floor and not a word, the boy gave them to Thron-din and left.
“The Mask of Freyolin and the Wing of Incinolin.” Thron-din passed them around the fire to give to one of the five. “Keep the Cup of Necrolin safe. The final piece, the Relic of the Mother, is with Gemini. She will need these as well as the map to ensure the Dragon Elders are able to accomplish what they need to do for the seals.”
“Is the map not of the Mid Realm of the Narx?” Dominic queried.
“It is. But it has an inscription on the back needed for the incantation for the Chains in Necrolis.”
A long deep horn echoed from outside the temple, similar to the one that sounded as they got close to the glacier. Thron-din listened to something the others could not hear and stepped back to the incense smoking the back wall.
“It is time for you to all go. Spread the word and prepare for war, this will not be easy.” Thron-din waved his hand through the smoke wavering from the small bowl and turned to the others with a stern look.
With a bow, nod or salute, all the leaders made their way to the entrance, filtering through the massive animal skin.
“Kallis, come see me before you leave.” Xen’Cara spoke in her gracefulness and smiled before disappearing from the smoky room.
“Your mounts will be ready at any time, rations and packs will be ready for you all as well. Do not stop for anything, time is of the essence.” Thron-din spoke in an urgent tone. “Your Krampan will keep you safe through the forest, they know it well.”
“With the seals broken, is there anything else we should be on the watch for?” Dominic asked.
“That is unknown. There are groups in Low Realm that have the same goal and are likely trying to keep things clean on their end. Magic will be heightened with the flood of power released by the seals; your own abilities may be affected with the souls of the Children.”
“Be wary that it might be mor
e intense and uncontrollable at times.” Thron-din walked around the fire and put his hand on Dominic’s shoulder. “It has been some time since you and I travelled the lands together, but from here it will be a whole new sort of story. One that you have yet to witness, a whole new story to tell.” Thron-din’s words weighed heavy on Dominic, making the others look at them with a curious stare.
“Keep safe ladies, we are on the brink, but have the strength to be resilient, be deep with your constitution, be vigilant with every step. Only you have the power to set things right, close the gates and seal it all back. Or kill the Neightur and push back their new gods. Go!” Thron-din’s words echoed in the room before fading into the snapping of the bonfire.
Everyone pushed their way through the leather entrance and left the large Barbarian alone with the bonfire. Smoke twirled around him while he entered deep in thought.
“Kallis, over here.” With a raised hand, Cara called over to her as she exited the spherical comet temple.
A few steps down to where she was standing, Kallis couldn’t help but smile at her beauty.
“Interesting group you have been travelling with.” Cara looked up at her with a cocked eyebrow and a coy smile.
“Interesting doesn’t say the half of it.” Kallis put all her weight onto one leg, kicking at nothing like it were a small pebble.
“The Dragon Children know?” There was a stern urgency in her curiosity.
With a long breathe in, Kallis paused. “Not yet.”
“It will be harder now with the seals broken, especially with your ward dead as well.” Cara reached out and grabbed Kallis’ arm tightly.
“I know.” Kallis snapped back. “Sorry. I am still trying to figure that part out Darling.”
Xen’Cara kept her hold on Kallis’ arm and stared into her eyes with a deep threat. There was a concern between the two that changed the air around them.
“What is your plan?” Xen’Cara asked without blinking.
“I can keep it suppressed, but if she touches me.” Kallis paused and trailed off. “If she touches me.”
“You can always come home with me.”
“I would prefer coming back with you Darling, but I need to see the end. There is someone I need to get back into contact with. It is possible now.”
“I thought she would be dead by now?” Xen’Cara released her arm slowly with her question.
“She is resilient but will have a few questions of her own once she is here.”
“Will she remember?”
“Not something you can forget Darling.” Kallis raised an eyebrow at her.
“Remember to come to Xen’lo when you are done, there are a handful of things I need your help with.” Cara smiled at her, lifting the tension in the air.
Kallis nodded
“And also remember, don’t let her touch you.” Xen’Cara poked Kallis in the shoulder gently and looked over to the others waiting in the middle of the roadway. “They’re all pretty, it’s not going to be easy.”
Kallis turned to the group waiting and then back to Xen’Cara with a smile.
“It going to be fun.”
Chapter 29
The sun streaked down at Gemini’s face making it hurt to open her eyes against the brightness and the heat. Her whole body felt like she had been sleeping days, making her weak against the binds that held her firmly against something hard against her back. Slowly rolling her head to the side to watch the noisy armoured legs weave in and out with each other, she knew that she was amongst a military group. Groggily blinking against the sun and then to the other side, more legs weaved in and out of each other.
Another attempt at looking straight up forced her to squint through her eyelashes in a paltry effort to try and shade the sun. Through the waving mirage of the world through the heat of the day, she could see a handful of larger birds soaring way off in the distance. One of them looked a lot stranger than a typical flyer and a lot larger than the others. The odd conversation between the marching soldiers perked her ears in every direction, hoping to get an idea of where she was or where they were headed.
Nothing was clear enough outside of the dry conversation of how bored they were for walking so long, the heat they had to endure or the uselessness of Dwarves and Elves. Others were commenting on her being heavy for a woman and that it was such a disappointment that she had to be unspoiled.
Few clouds scattered through the blue sky above her. The inability to rub her eyes made it difficult to recover from being unconscious and clear the sleep that had built up. The circling birds above seemed to be following them, spies of the wild waiting for the right time to strike. The sounds around her began to get louder with each trample of the group’s feet until things started to echo back at each tromp. They had entered a valley.
Voices called out over the sounds of steel on stone, orders to keep a look out. Gemini tried to keep still, as to not alert anyone that she was awake. Even though she was bound, there had to be something to do that could warrant her freedom. She could feel the subtly movement of her armour around her body, keeping her safe while she was not able.
A shadow from the mountains blanketed the edge of the war party around her, giving her a little more freedom to see through the haze and take in more of her surroundings. Tops of the valley on either side started to take shape like a jigsaw puzzle that had been pulled a part. The natural formations curved and jutted their way in a disordered line that mirrored across to the other side. The odd outcropping would connect both sides with a natural bridge and give her a break against the intensity of the sun.
Keeping time with the sound of the boots striking the hardened stone road, Gemini could barely hear herself think as she moved her eyes from side to side. After giving up with the inconsistent shot of light from the sun in her eyes, she sighed from a forced boredom and traced the cliff line as they moved through the canyon.
Occasionally, she could see a flicker of something or someone along the puzzle edge of the pass wall. Squinting again after one of the movements, she could make out that it was a hooded person bobbing in and out of view. They stayed within line of her as if they were keeping an eye on her. It was impossible for her to make out any features against the brightness beaming down on her and the shadows it cast under the hood.
“Let him know that she is awake.” One of the soldiers around her finally noticed her eyes were open and called forward, making her skip a breath at the sudden distraction.
Sounds of the message rebounded from voice to voice, moving through the ranks like wildfire. Just as quickly as it sounded, it faded back to the stampede of the echoing movement of war. Trying to focus on any other sounds around her, all she could hear were the footsteps. A single set offset from the rest circled in around behind her and an officer looking man leaned over her, blocking the sun.
“Morning Princess, nice of you to finally join us.” The man’s voice was not as authoritative as it should have been, but he was definitely in command. “I bet you’re wondering why you are still alive, and where we are going?”
She did not respond and just looked past his fast to the group of birds still flying around above.
“My name is Captain Raazin, Third Arc of the Sigil. As unhappy as I am that we must carry you in such accommodation Ms. Uridine, the precautions are necessary to keep us safe.” Raazin patted his hand against the steel framing surrounding her.
“This cage was built special for you, with a close guidance from a certain group of monks; reluctant in their help at first but were quickly able to see the light.” Leaning in closer to her face, she could barely see his features against the scalding sun. “Welcome to Durindal my dear, it is time for you to finish your quest.”
The edges of the valley cliffs above quickly ended, and the heat of the sun slammed into her in full force again. She could feel sweat forming on her face and could still only blink against the assault on her vision. Trying again at the binds she was in, there was no give in any location she tried
, not even a rattle.
“No use trying Princess, they have been magically fused and will not break.” Raazin leaned over again. “A little trick I learned from our mutual friends.”
The cart she was on rumbled along the path, skipping over small stones and squeaking its wheels between the rumble of the marching. The orchestra of her captivity banging against the world was working on keeping her spirits low. The instilled dread he was trying to force onto her was kept at bay of the thought she was not alone on this trip.
Looking back up into the sky, the small collection of birds was still there, watching to make sure she was alright. There was something off about them, the larger one looked like it was growing. She could start to make out its wingspan being different from the others.
“She’s back sir.” A young woman’s voice called from behind Gemini, behind Captain Raazin.
Gemini watched as the Captain rolled his eyes during a heavy sigh and turned to a stop, forcing the parade to flow around him like a stone in a stream.
“I told you that we would handle it.” Raazin’s voice could barely be heard over the footsteps.
“He won’t wait any longer. It has to be today.” A child’s voice, a young girl, like the girl from before.
“Dammit, I won’t be ordered by the likes of you fanatics. We made our deal. We are close to …” Their conversation drifted into the war marching.
Gemini stopped trying to listen to the conversation as it trailed off. Craning her neck back as much as she could, all she could see were soldier crotches and legs. Sighing to herself, she rolled her head back to a more comfortable position and turned back to the sky.
The small flock was gone, save for the lone larger one that began to haze against the heat of the day. Within the avalanche of marching and her metallic cart, the cascade of the drumming coda finally came to an end.
“Now is your time to shine Princess.” Raazin surprised her with how quick he caught back up to the cart.
Age of Souls Page 45