Dusk Gate (Soul Bound Book 1)

by Benjamin Medrano

  Xandra caught a flicker of movement from Jasmine, who was in the corner of her vision, but she couldn’t quite tell what she was doing, and she wasn’t going to take her attention away from the potential threats in front of her, even if the farmers probably weren’t a threat. The key was to examine them as if they were, which would help keep her from missing someone who was a threat.

  “I think I want to visit the hot springs. Naomi?” Jasmine said slowly, her voice a bit anxious. “Something pleasant after the last few days… well, I think it would be nice.”

  “Well… yes, I want to as well. Even if it makes me feel guilty,” Naomi said, her voice tiny. “Bradley, Charles, Emily, and all the others… they died, and we’re talking about visiting a hot spring. It feels a little… disrespectful.”

  Jasmine didn’t reply, but Xandra heard her footsteps falter, which made Xandra raise her gaze for a moment, counting slowly to ten before she sighed. She wasn’t much good at comforting others, and coddling them was… not her nature. Yet she needed to stop them from feeling bad about themselves, lest they decide to get themselves killed out of some sense of noble guilt.

  “What was their goal?” Xandra asked.

  “What?” Jasmine asked in return, sounding a touch taken aback.

  “What was their goal? I assume that these are the guards who died before you encountered me,” Xandra said, resisting the urge to ask if Vanreth was among them. She certainly wouldn’t be upset if he’d died as well. Perhaps she wouldn’t dance on his grave, but she’d certainly take a bit of satisfaction in his death. Dancing would take too much effort, and she didn’t care that much.

  “They… they are. Were. The goal was to get us out of the country safely, and to try to find help. They told us to go ahead, and that they’d try to slow down the plants,” Jasmine said, her voice a bit husky now, and Xandra nodded slightly.

  “In that case, why feel guilty? Yes, they died. If you wish to grieve for them, such is your decision. However, they succeeded in what they set out to do,” Xandra told her, resisting the urge to click her tongue at them. “You survived because they slowed the plants down. I certainly couldn’t have helped you if you hadn’t made it to that abandoned farm. Furthermore, we’re finding help, just as you asked. What’s wrong with taking the time to make certain you’re ready to face the various tasks ahead of you?”

  Both women were silent for a couple of seconds. Then Jasmine spoke, her voice soft, but with a note of gratitude in it. “True. You have a point, Xandra. Thank you for that.”

  “Why thank me? I’m just pointing out that it’s true. The last thing you need to do is get yourselves so anxious over the deaths of others that you make mistakes and get yourselves killed. How will that help?” Xandra said, and almost immediately regretted it, as that likely wasn’t the right response for people who were already somewhat depressed.

  Naomi giggled, somewhat to Xandra’s surprise, then Jasmine started to laugh as well, which was a bit disconcerting.

  After a few seconds, Xandra glanced back at them, and on visibly seeing their amusement, her eyes narrowed and she demanded, “What’s so entertaining?”

  “It’s just… you, Xandra. I think that your second comment fits you better than the first,” Jasmine said, shaking her head as she spoke. “You’re not very good at comforting people.”

  “Who said I was trying to comfort you? You’re liable to get yourself killed at this rate,” Xandra said, sniffing in irritation as she turned her attention to the road in front of her.

  “Whatever you say,” Naomi murmured, for the first time in a very long time sounding amused, which only increased Xandra’s irritation.

  That being the case, she sped up. Perhaps if the two couldn’t breathe as deeply, they wouldn’t be able to keep laughing.

  It took longer than Xandra would have preferred to get to the Hot Spring Inn. It wasn’t that the town was that large, but they did have to pay the minor fee to enter town, then make their way past several carts which mostly blockaded the best path to the inn. Fortunately, bypassing them didn’t take too long, but it still irritated her.

  At least the inn looked about how she remembered it. The building was older but well kept, with some wooden bracing on the outside that she suspected could be easily replaced, considering that most of the building was stone. Narrow windows allowed light into the rooms on the ground and second floor, while the smell of sulfur tinged the air. That part didn’t bring back good memories, but Xandra simply glanced at the sign which depicted ponds with steam rising off them and a crescent moon overhead, then headed inside.

  The interior was nicer than the exterior, with polished wooden floors and walls, though the floor near the front door was dirty, and numerous wall hangings made the room look brighter. Almost immediately to their left was the entrance into a dining room that looked to be just barely getting started for the day, while Xandra could see a hallway leading to numerous rooms just past it. She had to wonder where the stairs leading up were, but she set the thought aside, instead focusing on the woman behind the desk.

  The brunette was short and curvy, one who obviously liked her food, and her hair was rather short as well, having been heavily curled that morning. While she had a bright smile on her face, her eyes betrayed intelligence, and a tiny part of Xandra was put on edge by how the woman’s eyes reminded her of some of the demons she’d met, even though they weren’t quite black, just a very dark brown. It wasn’t a reasonable association, but such things were never reasonable.

  “Are the two of you comfortable rooming together?” Xandra asked the two priestesses, pausing as she realized that she should have asked that earlier.

  “That would be fine,” Jasmine assured her, and Naomi nodded in agreement.

  “Good. In that case, we’re looking for two rooms,” Xandra told the woman behind the desk, just as the woman was opening her mouth. “We’ll only be staying the night, and they would like access to the springs, while I have no interest in such.”

  “Ah, are you certain? All of our rooms come with access to the baths, and I do think it would be a shame for anyone to miss out on the experience,” the woman asked, looking slightly taken aback. “It’s the main reason most people come here, after all! The springs are good for helping the body and mind relax, helping you face a new day with a smile on your face.”

  “That would require me to have a personality which allows me to have a smile on my face,” Xandra replied, her tone about as dry as it could be. “Fortunately, you have two guests who are interested in such, and I suspect they’ll badger me until I agree to try them as well. Regardless, do you have the rooms?”

  Xandra saw Jasmine’s cheeks redden as she spoke, which amused her somewhat. The woman nodded in response to her question, though. “Of course! We charge three marks per night for a room, and another if you wish for clean towels and meals. A room for two costs five instead, so for the three of you it will come to eight marks, or a crown and a mark if you wish for meals and towels.”

  Nodding, Xandra pulled a gold and silver coin out of her pouch without even looking, setting them on the desk gently.

  “I’d like a room in the quietest section of the inn if possible,” Xandra said, at which the woman’s smile faded slightly.

  “Ah, are you certain? That part of the inn isn’t as well kept, and we’ve been looking at doing renovations. It’s also the farthest from the springs,” the woman said, frowning slightly. “The ones closer to the springs are much nicer.”

  “That doesn’t matter to me. I’m quite certain I’ve slept in worse places,” Xandra said, glancing back as she added, “Though I’m certain Jasmine and Naomi would prefer someplace nicer. Don’t worry about keeping our rooms close together, as we all know how I am.”

  Jasmine looked at Naomi for a moment, tilting her head curiously. Naomi seemed to think for a few seconds, then shrugged.

  “Well, sure? I mean, I don’t know how much farther it would really be, but I’d rather not have to
walk any more than I have to. We’ve done more walking in the last week than I think I did in the entire previous month,” Naomi said, surreptitiously rubbing her upper thighs, which prompted Xandra to roll her eyes. Gods save her from pampered priestesses.

  “As you like. One moment while I get the keys and find where Anna has gotten off to. She’ll show you to your rooms,” the woman said, taking the coins at last and slipping them into a compartment behind the desk.

  From the sound the coins made, Xandra was sure they fell into a lockbox. The woman then fished out a key and unlocked another drawer, pulling it out to reveal a couple dozen gleaming brass keys, each with a numbered cord looped through them. She pulled out two of the keys, one notably less tarnished than the other, and closed it again, looking around.

  “Anna! We have guests, where are you?” the woman called out. There wasn’t a response for a moment, then there was a thump in the back, followed by the sound of rapid footsteps.

  A moment later a short young woman burst around the corner, her long, dark hair in slight disarray, and a few crumbs around her mouth and on the apron she wore over a dark brown dress. She spoke rapidly. “Ma, I was having my lunch, I told you before I went to eat!”

  The woman sighed, reaching up to brush the crumbs away from the young woman’s mouth as she scolded, “We have guests. You’re supposed to make yourself presentable before coming out.”

  “It isn’t an issue. I know that everyone needs to eat,” Jasmine chimed in, not even trying to hide her smile. “I’m sorry for interrupting your meal, Anna.”

  “If she’ll just show us to our rooms, she can get right back to it,” Xandra added, slightly amused despite herself. She wasn’t enormously amused, but she liked most youths more than adults. They were more honest and less likely to irritate her.

  Anna froze, her eyes going wide as she looked at each of them, then focused on Xandra’s face under the hood before she blurted out, “You’re gorgeous!”

  Xandra resisted the urge to sigh. Less likely to irritate her indeed.

  “I know,” Xandra replied evenly. “Our rooms, please?”

  The girl colored, taking the keys as she spoke breathlessly. “O-of course! Right this way!”

  Xandra followed her, ignoring Naomi’s glare.

  Chapter 27

  “You’re giving the money back? Why?” the fair folk asked, a faint growl accompanying his words, and Orsah felt a part of her quail at the sound of it. She was brave enough, but the encounter with Xandra had shaken her, and the sight of the fair folk’s amber eyes, so much like those of a wolf but much more dangerous, made her nervous.

  “We tried to capture the holy maiden, but that was before we knew who accompanied her. If Xandra had been in a more unpleasant mood, she’d have killed all of us,” Orsah replied, swallowing hard as she looked back into the fair folk’s eyes. The dark cave was much deeper than she’d thought it was, and she could smell wolves within. A part of her wondered if this was the only fair folk, or if he had more of his kind with him. Whichever was the case, she didn’t want to find out. “Since we don’t want to commit suicide, we decided that the best idea was to give your money back.”

  For several seconds the fair folk looked at her curiously, then he turned away, both to her relief and confusion. Orsah felt sweat trickling down her neck despite how cool the cave was, but strove to ignore it.

  “Fascinating… you’re more afraid of her than you are of me. I did not expect that,” the fair folk said, slowly prowling over to the wall. “Most of your kind are unnerved by me.”

  “I am. However, Xandra is a wholly different issue. She is… utterly uncaring about us, and she’s shown ample evidence that she’s willing to destroy everyone who gets in her way,” Orsah said, then paled as she quickly added, “Not that you need to do the same! She just frightens all of us.”

  The fair folk began to laugh, a strangely alien sound, and one that sent a shudder through Orsah. He didn’t look at her until his laughter died, and when he did, his teeth were bared in a horrific grin.

  “Ah, mortals. You’re so fearful of death, though I suppose almost every creature is like that. I sometimes wonder why, with how you live such short lives that you’re always racing toward the grave. I could easily show how deadly I am, and make you fear me as much as you fear this Xandra… but it wouldn’t gain that which I desire,” the creature said, his voice deepening slightly. “No, it wouldn’t help at all. You, though… you can help. We know little about this ‘Xandra’ of whom you speak. You know of her, so perhaps we should adjust our agreement.”

  “Adjust… adjust it how?” Orsah asked, swallowing hard.

  “Simple. You tell me what you know about Xandra, and I shall not only allow you to keep the coins I gave you, but you will be released from our previous agreement. You’ll also be allowed to live,” the fair folk said, his smile growing still wider. “A most equitable deal. Don’t you agree?”

  Orsah nodded numbly, not daring to contradict the fair folk.

  “Excellent! Now, let us get started. I want to know everything you can tell me,” the creature said, his fangs gleaming in the dim lighting.

  The room hadn’t been as poorly maintained as the innkeeper had made out, which surprised Xandra slightly. It didn’t mean the room was one she’d approve of, but it hadn’t been terrible, and she intended to use a few spells to clean it thoroughly later. In particular, she didn’t trust the bed not to have insect occupants, but she could deal with that readily enough. It was farther from the stairwell and other rooms than expected, and Anna’s cheeks had colored after Xandra had seen a thin layer of dust on the floor in the hallway. Xandra suspected that would be gone by the time she got back to the room.

  After being shown to their rooms they’d gone downstairs for an early dinner, even as other guests began trickling in, obviously coming from farther afield than Xandra and her companions had. The two priestesses were also in a room right at the top of the stairs nearest the entrance to the hot springs, which had pleased Naomi. The meal hadn’t been anything too impressive, though Xandra did wonder what the cook had put in the stew to give it the savory flavor. Not that she’d be able to replicate it either way, and she’d ignored how the priestesses had been drinking quite a bit of wine. Their hangovers were their problems.

  Now, though… Xandra had to admit she’d been wrong about the hot springs, relaxing ever so slightly as heat permeated her body. Her nose had largely grown used to the sulfur, and she’d chosen one of the pools that wasn’t as warm as the others, so it didn’t overwhelm her. At least not instantly, she corrected herself internally, as she was starting to sweat a little more than she’d anticipated. The sound of a soft splash that wasn’t from the miniature waterfall prompted Xandra to open her eyes.

  Each of the ponds in the hot springs were close to the same design, only really differing in how hot they were. Well, the design was only the same in those that the locals used, Xandra corrected again, internally irritated with herself for the mistake. The ‘wild’ ponds were muddy, bubbling pits. The one she was in was a smooth stone basin with a slightly raised channel from the previous pool that dropped steaming water into her pool in a small, steady waterfall, while an exit allowed water to move on to the next pond. A few stone steps led down into the cloudy water, allowing people to enter. For a moment Xandra was afraid it would be one of the other guests, but instead she saw Jasmine making her way into the pond as she set her towel to the side, her skin flushed.

  “Tired of the other pools?” Xandra asked mildly, examining the half-elf idly.

  She thought that Jasmine still bore most of the changes that her Mistress had made a few years before, but that might not be the case. She’d never seen Jasmine naked before she’d been changed, and this was her first good look at the priestess since they’d encountered one another again. It didn’t help that with all the naked people Xandra had seen over the centuries, Jasmine’s body didn’t stand out that much. Not after only a single encounter.r />
  “I’m a little warm, but I also wanted to come see how you were doing. You didn’t seem like you wanted to bathe that much, so I wasn’t sure if you’d even be here anymore,” Jasmine said, slowly settling into the pool with a happy sigh.

  “I was wrong. This is much better than I expected. I think I’ve experienced hot springs before, but it’s been so long…” Xandra paused, then shook her head, continuing, “I simply have poor associations due to my time in the Domain of Ashen Hopes. My Mistress enjoyed stripping everything pleasant away.”

  Jasmine’s smile faltered at that, pausing as she looked at Xandra. For several seconds neither spoke, the only sound the voices of other people in the distance, as well as the burbling water.

  “I’m amazed you survived it. Truly,” Jasmine said at last, her voice soft. “I was told who she was, you know. As soon as I heard that she was Morselle… if I’d known when I was in her hands, I’d have despaired immediately. You must have been incredibly strong.”

  “Strong? Me? Oh, Jasmine…” Xandra couldn’t help her laughter, shaking her head as it came bubbling out.

  “What? You survived, didn’t you?” Jasmine asked, not sounding upset, just curious as she watched Xandra with shining eyes.

  “I survived because that was what she wished for. Alora was strong, as long as she held out, but even she wouldn’t have lasted long if demons weren’t immortal. They prefer to draw out the despair of mortals as long as possible, and like to take their time,” Xandra corrected, looking Jasmine in the eyes. “If my Mistress had tried, truly tried… a week. That’s the amount of time I believe I could have held on to my sanity or my own will. Perhaps not even that long, but she wanted to draw out my torment. To chip away at each of my values, until I had nothing left but my pride. I don’t know why she left me with even that, after more than a millennium. I may appear to be strong to you, but I…”