Enaya: Solace of Time

by Justin C. Trout

  “Wait!” Nile urged.

  He turned around. “Yes?”

  “Please, you don’t understand. We need a place to stay just for a day or so. I’ll explain everything.”

  “Do you bring trouble?”

  “No.”

  “Then I shall discuss it with the village elders, and you shall wait here until further notice.”

  “Thank you,” Nile said, watching the elder go back into the city.

  Leo spotted two children glancing at them from a window. Once they were noticed, they quickly moved out of sight. He then saw a cathedral and some of the people run in and shut the doors.

  “Are they afraid of us?”

  “I hope not, my dear boy.”

  Nile turned to them. “So, now we just wait.”

  “I’m starving,” Ashera said.

  Leo’s stomach growled. “Yeah, me too.”

  Nile walked over to the edge of the mountaintop and sat down in the grass. He pulled his knees up to his chest and looked at the opposite side of the village. He admired the beauty of it and loved it deeply. As Bancroft walked over to them, an arrow flew in front of him and hit the airship. Although it was not strong enough to pierce the metal, it did dent it.

  Ashera quickly pulled out her staves and twisted them together. She twirled it around and stepped to the side in case anything was to come at her. Then, to her surprise, a young girl in her teens jumped from a tree and aimed her crossbow at Ashera.

  The girl had dirty-blonde hair and brown cat ears. Her eyes were like cat’s as well, but blue and beautiful. Her face was round, her lips colored red, and her nose was small and cute. She had a long neck and was wearing several chains as collars; one chain had a symbol of a butterfly hanging from it. She wore a white short-sleeved shirt and a brown leather vest that stopped about midway down. She wore tight brown leather pants that laced up the side, and she wore brown knee-high leather boots. Each arm harbored a brown leather vambrace, and on her right vambrace was a crossbow. She had arrows in a quiver attached to her belt that hung off the left side of her hip.

  “Who are you?” she asked in a scratchy voice.

  “Don’t worry about it,” Ashera replied, twirling her staff around and bringing it behind her back.

  “Say or I’ll shoot.”

  “Shoot,” Ashera challenged.

  Locklin approached the girl. “We don’t want any problems, eh.”

  The girl aimed at him and fired, and Ashera quickly swung her staff in front of the arrow and deflected it. The wizard then brought her staff around as hard as she could, and wind shot out from the staff and knocked the young girl back. Ashera ambushed her and placed her staff at her throat.

  “I will turn you into a toad.”

  “All right,” the young female said, pushing Ashera’s staff away from her. “I’m Charis Lenoir.”

  “Pretty name,” Leo commented.

  Charis brought her knees to her chest and kicked herself up to her feet. She dusted herself off and turned around, revealing a brown cattail sticking from a slit behind her pants.

  “There you go,” Nile whispered to Leo.

  “Don’t start,” Leo said.

  Sarcastically, Nile moaned, “Meow.”

  “What was that?” Charis said, walking past Ashera and getting up in Nile’s face. “Were you just making fun of our kind? Just because we look like cats doesn’t mean we act like them.”

  “No, I wasn’t making fun,” Nile said.

  Charis looked at a small cut she received as she hit the ground just above the vambrace on her left arm. She licked it until the blood was gone, and then licked it a few more times until it was clean. When Charis noticed the awkward stares she was receiving, she stopped.

  “That is the only thing that we have in common with cats,” Charis said.

  Leo then screamed at her, and she nearly jumped out of her skin. The feline female jumped back and threw up her hands, and large nails extended from small slits at the tip of her fingers.

  Leo laughed. “Scaredy cat.”

  “Keep laughing,” Charis said.

  Bancroft stepped forward. “I’m so sorry to have bothered you, my friend, but what kind of species are you?”

  “Peoriallites,” she replied. “We are a mixed breed of humans and the Larajis from up north. Some of us are furrier than others.”

  Bancroft chuckled. “I’m sure you are.”

  Charis pointed her claws at him. “What do you mean old man?”

  Before Bancroft answered, Ashera stepped in front of him. “Some of us need to stop having an attitude.”

  Charis slowly backed away, loaded another arrow on her crossbow, and then aimed it at Ashera.

  “I would hate to have to cut those claws off.”

  “Ouch,” Leo said, looking to Ashera.

  “Quiet, Leo,” Ashera said, not taking her eyes off Charis.

  Nile glanced between the two and said the first thing in his mind to keep them from arguing. “We bring bad news.”

  Charis lowered her crossbow. “Such as?”

  “The Lucian Empire is on the move, and we have come here to warn you,” Nile said.

  Charis looked up to the airship. “And I suppose this tin can is yours?”

  “Hey, this tin can is the best thing you’ll ever be in,” Locklin said.

  Charis snarled. “I doubt it.”

  “How old are you, my child?”

  “Eighteen and still growing,” Charis replied.

  “An elder went to speak to the council about us staying the night, and if we do, we don’t want any trouble,” Nile said before Ashera could open her mouth to comment.

  “Let me tell . . .”

  “Charis!” an old voice called.

  Charis turned around to see the elder standing there.

  “Leave them alone. We’ve had enough trouble from you for a day.”

  “Sorry, Father,” Charis said and she glared at the newcomers before scurrying up a staircase and across the bridge.

  The elder approached them. “I have talked to the council and you may stay the night, but you must join us for supper and tell us why you are here, and you must be out by tomorrow morning.”

  “I thank you,” Nile said. “What is your name?”

  “Ishmael.”

  “Thank you.”

  “I shall take you to your lodging, and dinner will be served at six in the great hall. Tonight we have our Celebration of Mystainism.”

  “What is that?” Nile asked.

  “Mystainism is the celebration of our thanks. There is food and music, and we dance and sing. You may stay in your room for the night, or you may join us.” Ishmael turned to the newcomers. “But please, dress more appropriate. We have shops open until four here in Peoria and we will cover your hotel expenses since we usually are only open to our kind who pass through here.”

  Ishmael crept up a stone staircase. A window closed on a stone house as they passed by, and they could hear the pitter-patter of feet running through the house. There were whispers coming from the door as they passed. Nile looked to the top to see a male pull away from the edge, hiding in the shadows.

  Locklin lit a cigarette, not paying attention to everyone else. He inhaled the smoke and closed his eyes, breathing it in.

  Ishmael stopped and sniffed. “Is something on fire?”

  Locklin stopped for a second and looked at Ishmael as his nose twitched and his whiskers stiffened. Locklin flicked the cigarette over the bridge and into the water below before Ishmael saw it.

  “Do you smell that?”

  “No,” Locklin said.

  “Very well then,” Ismael said, stopping in front of a large stone structure labeled Nightwish Inn. “Here is where you will be staying.”

  Nile felt relaxed. There was excitement to lay in a real bed, hopefully a soft one, and stretch out and sleep. Just the thought of sleeping made him extremely tired. He yawned and proceeded to walk into the Nightwish Inn.

  Chapter 30<
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  The Nightwish Inn

  The lobby had a small desk with a plump old peoriallite in thick glasses and a white long-sleeved shirt with a maroon vest. His ears were black, and he had long whiskers upon his face. He was snoozing when they went in to register. Leo, as immature as he was, eagerly tapped the small register bell for service, and the peoriallite continued to sleep. Leo tapped it again. The bell rang, and nothing happened. He looked back at the group with a smile then picked up the bell, reached over the counter, and tapped it in his ear. The peoriallite jumped awake.

  “I’z wuz taking a snooze!”

  “I’z needz a room,” Leo mocked, trying to make the crew laugh.

  Ashera slapped Leo’s arm. “Don’t be rude.”

  “They will be staying free of charge tonight,” Ishmael said. “Tomorrow, see Aeolian and he will reimburse you.”

  “Aeolian iz az stubborn az the gray hairz on mize back.”

  “It is not for Aeolian to say, but for me,” Ishmael said. “They bring news.”

  The peoriallite glared at him, then pulled a book from below the counter. He stood up, opened it to a blank page, and pointed for Leo to sign, and when he did, he tossed the pen in the book and closed it. The peoriallite then handed Leo three keys.

  Leo handed the keys as he called out, “One key is for Nile and Ashera, the other is for Bancroft and Locklin, and the third is for me.”

  Ashera grabbed the key out of Nile’s hand, threw it into Leo’s chest, and quickly grabbed the key in Leo’s hand. “I get the room to myself.”

  Leo looked at her in surprise and then turned to lead the crew down the hallway. He stopped at the door with a 2 stamped on it and went in. Nile followed him. The rest disappeared into doors within the hall. Leo walked to the closest bed, stretched out his arms, and fell onto the bed. He moaned and then jumped back up.

  “What?” Nile asked.

  “The bed is hard.”

  “Well,” Nile mumbled, “I was looking forward to a soft bed.”

  Leo untied his boots and kicked them off. “What did you and the magician talk about?”

  Nile stopped for a second, glancing to his friend, nervous as to what to tell him. “I told her I would fix this . . . and she kissed me?”

  “What?” Leo turned to him, upset. “She kissed you? Why didn’t she kiss me?”

  This was Nile’s time to joke. He stood up straight stretched out his arms. “Come on, look at me. Look at this. Girls aren’t going to pass this up.”

  Ashera burst into the room. “Is everything all right?”

  Nile turned to her. “Yeah.”

  Ashera smiled at Nile, then left the room. Nile leaned back to watch her leave.

  “She’s a keeper. I’m happy she kissed you,” Leo said.

  “You are?”

  “You should go and speak to her.”

  “I don’t know what to say.”

  “Tell her how pretty she is, or something like that. Pretend she’s Dywnwen.”

  “That might get me in trouble,” Nile joked, and followed it with fake laughter.

  Leo shrugged, eased himself onto the bed, and lay back. “You do what you wanna do, but I’m tellin’ you that you need to speak to her.”

  Nile took off his jerkin and threw it down on the bed. He rolled up his sleeves, unfastened the first two strings at the neck to show some chest, and walked down the hall. He came to a door 5 and noticed that the door was already open.

  He almost knocked, but did not. Instead, he barely pushed the door open and leaned against the doorframe. Ashera had her back turned to him, taking off her cloak. She placed it on a rocking chair and then slightly turned her head over her right shoulder, smiling.

  “I knew you would come.”

  Nile said nothing, but continued to stand in the doorway.

  Ashera slowly walked to him. Nile swallowed hard and then stood straight. He closed the door behind him. Ashera placed her arms around his neck. She kissed him softly on the lips and closed her eyes, leaning her forehead on his.

  “I . . . don’t know what to . . . say.”

  “Say nothing. Your presence here is enough.”

  Nile smiled.

  Ashera rubbed her hands through his hair, and then she pulled herself back, looking into his eyes. “Do you think we will ever stop?”

  “Stop what?”

  “Running.”

  Nile lowered his head. “I have hope.”

  “Is that all your life is about? Hope?”

  Nile shrugged. “I don’t know what else I’m fighting for. Without hope, I’m nothing. I have to know that with hope, all this can get better. I didn’t have much hope until I met you.”

  “What if hope doesn’t exist anymore?”

  “Then in the end, all I have is hope.”

  Ashera kissed Nile again, and this time, when she pulled back, Nile placed his hand at the back of her head and pulled her to his lips. His hands loosely fell to the arch of her back, and he gripped her tightly.

  Leo walked by Ashera’s room and saw Nile and her kissing. His eyes grew wide. He headed down the hallway. “They’re kissin’.”

  “Eh, makes me miss bein’ in a relationship, ya know?”

  “Yeah,” Leo said, placing his hands on his hips. “Well, actually, I’ve never been in one.”

  Bancroft laughed. “Then you’re missing out on the treasures of the world.”

  “Romance?” Leo asked disgusted. “There has to be far greater treasures then that.”

  Bancroft and Locklin looked at each other. “No,” Locklin said. “No, there isn’t.”

  “Love is a beautiful thing,” Bancroft said.

  Leo paused for a second. Then he shook his head in disagreement and headed back to his room. Locklin and Bancroft followed him.

  “Ya know what, Bancroft?” Locklin said.

  “What?”

  “I think somebody is jealous because Nile is makin’ the moves on a lady.”

  Leo grabbed his pillow and threw it at Locklin as they stood in the doorway. Locklin threw it back at him and Leo caught it. “I’m not jealous,” Leo said.

  “If so, I understand,” Locklin said with a sly smile.

  “What do ya know, eh?” Leo said, mocking the way Locklin talked.

  The smile on Locklin’s face disappeared into somewhat of a frown.

  “Aw, did somebody get their feelings hurt?” Leo asked, frowning.

  Bancroft chuckled.

  Locklin took a deep breath and looked at Bancroft. “Should we kill ’em, eh?”

  Bancroft shrugged. “I wouldn’t miss him.”

  Leo confidently said. “Whatever, I’m the life of the party.”

  “In your dreams,” Locklin mocked.

  “In real life.”

  Nile walked between them and into the room.

  “Nile, help us deal with your friend Leo, eh.”

  Nile grinned. “He’s just jealous that Ashera likes me and not him.”

  Locklin and Bancroft laughed. Locklin laughed so hard he clapped his hands and leaned over, resting his elbows on his knees. “We were just sayin’ that to him a moment ago.” Then he excused himself and headed to his room.

  Nile sat on the edge of his bed, and Bancroft leaned up against the wall. “Ashera is going to sleep before the celebration tonight.”

  “Are we goin’?” Leo asked.

  Nile shrugged. “I’m going because Ashera wants to go.”

  “I guess I could use something to get my mind off things.”

  “I doubt I’ll go, my friends.”

  “Come on, Bancroft, it’ll be fun,” Leo said.

  Bancroft hesitated. “No, no, you go ahead without me. I might skip dinner and sleep the night through. Today has been one rough day.”

  “I respect your decision,” Nile said, “but I wish you would join us.”

  “I understand, but I can’t just get out there and dance my worries away.”

  “Then take your time, Bancroft, and if you need
me here with you, I’ll stay,” Nile said.

  “No, I appreciate that, but you go out with your lady friend and enjoy the night together. You only live once.”

  Locklin came back into the room, and Leo jumped at him, acting as if he were going to attack him. Locklin held out his hands in defense and then eased up. “I have some clothing out in the Ancrya, if ya wish to check them out.”

  Nile nodded and got up, and he and Leo followed Locklin out to the Ancrya. When they walked in to the cabins, Charis was messing with a Rifle.

  “What are ya doin’?” Locklin asked.

  Charis quickly turned around and placed the rifle behind her back. “It’s none of your business.”

  “When you’re in my airship, I’m makin’ it my business, sweet cheeks.”

  Charis aimed the rifle at them, not knowing what it did, and the three men quickly ducked down and told her to move it away. She did and then asked, “What does it do?”

  “Give it to me and I’ll show you,” Leo said, standing up and approaching her.

  Charis hissed.

  “You’re cute, kid, but not that cute,” Locklin said, reaching for the Rifle.

  “Besides, I found more,” Charis said, pointing to a closet. Charis tossed the gun at Locklin, and he placed it on the bed beside him.

  “Listen, we need to change eh, so why don’t ya get outta here?”

  Charis sat on a bed, crossed her legs, resting on her palms. “Why don’t I just watch?”

  “How about you get out of here, or I drown you in water?” Leo commented.

  Charis looked at him. “Water doesn’t scare me.”

  “Charis, ya are gettin’ on my nerves.”

  Leo looked at Nile, “Come on and forget about her. If she wants to watch, let her watch.”

  Nile shrugged.

  Charis jumped up, “I’ve got better things to do than watch three men undress.” She pushed between them and left the airship while they stood in the cabin, laughing.

  “Anyways, fellas, we got some stuff in the closet over here,” Locklin said. There were clothes thrown around from when Nile, Ashera, and Leo hid in there. Locklin pulled out a black silk vest and a bright white shirt. He tossed them on the bed. Leo glanced at them, but was not interested. Nile picked up the vest, enjoying the texture between his fingers.