Nocturne

by Natalya Capello

  “I made it see me as the pack leader,” Ilia said. “However, it will come to its senses soon.”

  “I’ll take care of it,” Dae said. “But, I’m going to need to replenish my Aether soon.”

  Arryn stared at the dead wolf then glanced at Dae. “Can you remove this one as well?”

  Dae’s nose wrinkled. “Fine. Just because I don’t want to sleep next to a dead animal. Pull it closer to the other one.”

  She flew next to Ilia, eliciting a growl from the wolf. Ilia held her hand out and lowered it at the wolf. It let out a whimper and rested its head on its paws. Lorelei grabbed the front paws of the dead creature while Arryn grabbed the back. After much hefting a grown they were able to drag it closer to the living wolf. With a groan, Lorelei dropped her load and took a few steps back, rubbing one of her shoulders. Once Arryn had moved away, Dae chanted, repeating the same hand movements as before and the wolves disappeared.

  Lorelei dropped onto her bedroll, letting out a loud breath. She took the cloth from Arryn and cleaned her own blade.

  “Did you send it to the ravine as well?” she asked Dae.

  “Nah,” Dae landed on her bedroll and pulled a small cheesecloth bundle from her bag. She unwrapped it, revealing a small blue frosted cake. “I sent it into the mountains. It’s going to be confused for a few days, but it may survive.”

  “You brought cakes?” Arryn raised an eyebrow at her.

  “Dae likes sweets. They help replenish her Aether,” Ilia said. “I need some rest before dawn. Lorelei, can you watch?”

  “Yeah.” Lorelei gave her a two-fingered salute. “I’ll make sure no more giant beasts jump us.”

  Ilia lay on her bedroll, pulling her blanket over her. After stuffing the last bite into her mouth, Dae flopped onto her stomach. A few moments later, she began snoring.

  Arryn sat on his bedroll and glanced at Lorelei. “Do you wish me to stay up with you?”

  “No,” she said. “You should get some rest. No point in all of us being exhausted tomorrow.”

  He settled into his bed roll and closed his eyes. In mere moments, his breathing became the slow steady rhythm of sleep. Lorelei reached out and stroked his hair as she stared off into the darkness, looking for any encroaching threat.

  Lorelei yawned and blinked as the sky turned a red-orange of sunrise. All night she’d been on edge, reaching for her sword with every rustle of underbrush. Halfway through, she’d rummaged in her bag and found a small pot and a bag of coffee. It had been her savior and best companion through the wee hours of the morning. Not that she wouldn’t have minded Arryn, or even Ilia or Dae. But they had needed rest.

  The rays of the sun spread over the ground and kissed the tops of the broken pillars. The group had made camp on a plateau with the mouth of a ravine stretching out past the pillars. More stood on the opposite side of the gap. Below had to be the remains of the Citadel of Night. The bard Elys had done a thorough job of sinking it, but of course he’d had his guitar to aid him. Lorelei’s fingers itched to get ahold of it.

  She stood and stretched, raising her arms above her head and arching her back. Once she worked out the kinks, she reached down and shook Arryn.

  “Wake, my love,” she murmured.

  He rolled away from her and pulled the blanket over his head with a groan. She chuckled softly and walked around the fire to wake Ilia, who was still on her back. Ilia merely blinked at her and nodded. Lorelei shuffled over to where Dae was buried in a nest of her blanket and gently nudged her. Dae shot into the air.

  “More wolves?” She moved her head to the left and right in a frantic search. “I’m ready for them.”

  “No wolves,” Lorelei said. “Just morning.”

  “Oh.” Dae’s shoulder’s slumped and she rubbed her face.

  Lorelei returned to her pack and pulled out some of the meat and nuts. Breakfast was subdued, with everyone munching on their food and staring off into the distance with semi-glazed expressions. Lorelei returned her attention to the pillars and the ravine.

  Long ago, this had to be the entrance where the citadel had stood. Her pulse raced at the thought of the secrets that lay in the citadel.

  Once she finished eating, she packed up her things and trotted over to the pillars. Wolf prints covered the dirt as if the creatures had been pacing back and forth. Lorelei chewed the inside of her cheek as she stared down at the tracks. Why had the creatures roamed this area? It wasn’t like this was good hunting grounds. Dust and dirt stretched along the ravine, not good for the size of prey those wolves would like to consume.

  Ilia walked up behind her. “What’s wrong?”

  Lorelei pointed to the wolf prints. “Don’t you think it’s odd we were attacked last night? I mean, this area doesn’t seem to be the right habitat for wolves, especially ones that size.”

  Ilia scanned the ground and turned her gaze to the ravine and pillars. She muttered under her breath and pointed at the pillar closest to the ravine. “There’s a rope. Looks like someone might already be here.”

  “And they brought their pet wolves,” Lorelei said.

  She strode towards the pillar as Dae and Arryn joined them. The rope had been looped around the base of the pillar several times and knotted. The other end dropped down into the ravine, disappearing into the shadows below.

  “We’re not the only ones interested in the citadel, apparently.” Lorelei glanced back at Ilia. “Did you mention our trip to anyone?”

  She shook her head. “I have no idea who it could be.”

  “Perhaps we should turn back,” Arryn said. “We have no idea if these people will be friendly.”

  “Well, if we leave now, we won’t know if they are friendly,” Dae said with a shrug.

  “Come on,” Arryn said. “They had giant wolves guarding their way back. They probably don’t have the best intentions.”

  “Actually, the wolves are a rather smart idea,” Ilia said. “Who knows if Fomorians are roaming around. The wolves could protect their exit from that.”

  Lorelei clenched her fist in her skirt and stared down at the ravine. “Friendly or not, I’m not ready to turn back yet. I need this too much to give up at the possibility of company.”

  With a sigh, Arryn raised his hands in a symbol of resignation. “Fine. How are we going down?”

  “If they had something guarding the rope, then I doubt they did anything to it,” Ilia said. “We can use it.”

  Dae raised her arm over her head. “I can fly ahead and see if anything is wrong.”

  Ilia nodded.

  Dae dove into the ravine and flew into the darkness. Lorelei adjusted her bag, tightening the straps as she waited. She gave a silent prayer to the Empress that the rope was intact. It was an easy way down though there were probably consequences they would have to deal with later. She’d worry about those when they got to them.

  She glanced over at Arryn who stood staring at the ravine with his brow furrowed and his arms crossed. Ever since they’d left, he’d seemed put out about the whole thing, even though he’d offered to go with her. Sure, this wasn’t the soft beds and warm fires they were used to, but what had he expected? Adventuring life was hard. He wasn’t going to get an easy time of the comforts he was used to. He wasn’t even going to get that when he entered the navy. Then again, Nemain, his House, controlled a large portion of the army. He would most likely become an officer very quickly.

  He’d probably come to visit expecting a glorious weekend of drinking and pleasure. Lorelei had been looking forward to that as well until she’d messed up her Trial.

  He caught her eye and gave her a smile. She’d been staring without realizing it. She returned his smile with the shake of her head and a sigh. She needed to stop worrying about this. Arryn had come with her and she should appreciate that he had chosen to support her. When this was over, she would make sure to show him how much she cherished him.

  Dae rushed out of the ravine in a blur and stopped in front of them with her wings bu
zzing. “The rope goes down to a ledge. From there you should be able to climb down into the courtyard.”

  “Good,” Ilia said. “Are we ready then?”

  Lorelei grabbed onto the rope. “I’ll go first. Dae can go with me to keep an eye for any danger.”

  Ilia’s lips twitched in a smile. “As eager as ever. All right. If that’s fine with you, Dae?”

  Dae gave her the thumbs up. Arryn opened his mouth and then shut it with a look of pained resignation. Lorelei moved the rope and tugged on it a few times to test it. The knots didn’t give. With one last look at her companions, she began her descent into the ravine.

  4

  By the time Lorelei reached the courtyard, her arms were aching. It had seemed like forever she was stuck on that rope with the cavern yawning below. She stepped aside, rubbing her arms as she coughed from the dust hanging in the air. The sun’s rays barely managed to reach this point of the ravine.

  The courtyard appeared to be the top of an old battlement. The crenellations around the wall were half crumbled to dust. Rubble littered the stone floor and only a gap of five feet separated it from one of the cavern ledges.

  Lorelei lit her lantern and peered into the darkness beyond the courtyard. A large structure loomed, its shadows deepening the gloom to almost black. That had to be the citadel.

  “All right down there?” Arryn’s voice echoed from above her.

  “Looks good to me,” she called back.

  Several minutes passed and Arryn hopped down from the rope to land beside her. Ilia followed after with Dae hovering just above her head.

  Lorelei pointed to the building in the shadows. “I think that’s our destination.”

  “I’ll take the lead this time.” Arryn pulled his sword from its sheath on his belt.

  He set out across the rubble-infused courtyard. With a sigh, Lorelei followed behind him with Ilia and Dae bringing up the rear. Arryn still was suspicious that whoever tied the rope was down here. To be honest, he had a fair point. People who delved into places like this usually weren’t the most stable of people. She gave an inward chuckle. What did that say about her?

  She kept her hand hovering above her sword as she walked. Ahead of her, Arryn kicked a pile of rocks as he passed and their tumble against the ground echoed through the ravine.

  The light cut through the shadows, revealing a tower with its top broken off. Bricks and mortar surrounded the broken tower, though a path had been cleared leading to a lone wooden door, which hung partially open.

  “They made it easy for us,” Lorelei said.

  “For now,” Arryn said.

  He touched the edge of the door and it swung the rest of the way open with ease. Light spilled into the tower revealing a large circular room with a cracked granite floor. Bones lay scattered amongst the fallen stones. Three wooden doors lead off deeper into the citadel.

  Arryn pointed to the doors once everyone had entered the tower. “Which way?”

  Lorelei glanced at Ilia. “I don’t suppose you have a map?”

  She shook her head. “I tried, but I could never find one.”

  “So, we’re going with random then?” Dae asked.

  Arryn tapped his fingers against his leg as he stared at the doors in thought. “Two of them would lead through halls, possible to other towers. One would most likely lead inside the citadel.”

  “So, we try the doors until we see which one leads into the citadel. Probably the middle one.” Lorelei strode towards the center door.

  As she moved, the bones shook. Arryn let out a shout and grabbed Lorelei’s arm, pulling her back. The bones floated in the air, covered by blackish purple light.

  “Animated skeletons,” Ilia growled and pulled out her pistol.

  She fired at one of the skeletons, but the bullet passed through its ribcage and hit the wall.

  “Won’t do any good,” Dae said. “Not until the magic has formed them.”

  Lorelei went for her sword as the bones snapped together, forming five skeletons. The light covered their bones, almost like a skin holding them together. Three stood between them and the door, blocking their path while the other two flanked the group on the right and the left. The one on the right reached down and pulled a rusted, chipped sword from the rubble.

  The skeleton on the right scooped up a dagger and rushed towards Ilia. Lorelei gaped at it, stunned at the speed of which bones could move. Granted they were magically animated bones, but still. Ilia ducked back, stumbling over a piece of stone. The skeleton swiped with the dagger, slashing her forearm.

  Arryn pushed Lorelei behind him and lunged at the skeleton on the left, drawing his sword. The skeleton brought his own sword up to block. Metal clashed against metal with a ring that reverberated against the walls.

  Lorelei pressed her lips together and turned to the three remaining skeletons. She was going to have to pick her way through the rocks and debris to get to them. Behind her, Dae chanted in her quick language.

  Each of the three skeletons broke off two of their rib bones and pushed them together. The energy surrounded the rib bones forming them into a bow, with a small black-purple string.

  Lorelei moved forward, stepping over a flat stone the size of her chest. The skeleton in the middle raised its bow and pulled back the string. As it did so, the purple-black energy shifted and formed an arrow. The arrow flew through the air and brushed by Lorelei’s left side. A chill, colder than ice, radiated from the arrow as it passed. It crashed into the ground and dissipated with a small burst of black. The two remaining skeletons raised their bows with arrows forming.

  Lorelei gulped. She wasn’t going to make it to them without getting plugged with arrows. She needed something that could hit them with range. There was her magic. Her stomach twisted in knots. There was no guarantee her magic wouldn’t backfire on her and her companions. Her gaze darted around the room at the other fights. She had to risk it.

  She drew in a breath and started to sing. As her voice filled the room, Arryn looked at her before swinging his sword at the skeleton in front of him. Ilia glanced her direction with a wince. She ignored them and concentrated on the three skeletons blocking them from the door. She imagined the air around them growing heavier. So heavy it would crush their bones.

  The skeletons shuddered. The right one tried to raise its bow to aim at her. A crack formed in its forearm and spread up to its elbow and down to its wrist. Its arm crumbled to dust, with the bow falling to the ground. The middle skeleton shuddered as it began to implode. Its bones snapped and broke. It dropped to the ground in a pile of shards. The left skeleton yanked itself to the side and stumbled into a nearby wall. It took a few bumbling steps before turning her direction and aiming its bow.

  An arrow formed and flew into the air at her. It embedded into her shoulder, sending a chilling shock through her. The cold was so intense it burned. She let out a gasp, choking over her song. The armless skeleton lifted its head, its body straightening as the surrounding air dissipated, and picked up the bow. It used its foot as a brace and broke the bow in half, then held one end with a sharpened point as a weapon. It took a step towards her.

  Dae’s voice rose behind her and a portal opened up above the skeleton still holding the bow. A chunk of rock that looked suspiciously like one of the crenellations from the courtyard fell through the portal and onto the skeleton. Bones popped and snapped and it crumpled under the weight of the stone. One of its arms bounced against the ground a few feet from the rest.

  Arryn shouted as he ducked around his skeleton’s strike and jammed the pommel of his sword into the back of its head. It stumbled forward and twisted its body around, following its momentum with the swing of its sword. A gunshot reverberated off the walls as Ilia fired at the skeleton. The ball flew into the skeleton’s head and out the back. It turned its head in an odd direction, its jaw opening and closing. It raised the dagger and tossed it at her. She ducked to the side. The dagger bounced against the rocks with a soft ting.


  “Ilia, the gun’s not going to do much good,” Lorelei shouted as she held her wounded shoulder.

  With a nod, Ilia drew a deep breath and sang. After the beginning notes, the surrounding rocks shook and lifted into the air. She raised her finger to point at her skeleton. The rocks hurtled toward it. The first few crashed through its ribcage, breaking the ribs. Another hit its spine and the skeleton folded in on itself, falling to the ground.

  The armless skeleton worked its way through the rubble. Lorelei let out a piercing high note. A ripple formed in the air, growing larger the farther it traveled from her. The ripple hit the skeleton. Its body shuddered until its bones vibrated with increasing speed. They shook apart, flying in different directions and hitting the ground.

  One left.

  Lorelei turned in its direction where Arryn still faced off with it. He hadn’t had much success so far. Most of his blows seemed to have been met with the skeleton’s own sword.

  Lorelei picked up a rock and hurled it at the skeleton’s head. The rock hit the wall beside it. The skeleton turned in her direction.

  That was all Arryn needed. He swung the blade of his sword through the skeleton’s neck bone. Vertebrae shuddered and it fell to the ground with its head bouncing against a bit of rubble.

  Lorelei glanced around the room. “Is that it?”

  “I think so,” Dae said in a shaky voice.

  “What the hell?” Arryn said. “Why are there animated skeletons here? Why did they come to life?”

  Ilia’s jaw tightened as a grim look came over her face. “There has to be a necromancer here.”

  “But necromancers don’t control the living,” Lorelei said. “He or she wouldn’t have trained those wolves, would they?”

  “Then the necromancer didn’t come alone,” Dae said.

  Arryn paled. “We need to leave. This wasn’t what you proposed. This place was supposed to be empty. This is too much. We should retreat and report to the local authorities.”

  Lorelei rubbed the aching area around her shoulder and stared at the ground in contemplation. Necromancers were dangerous with the ability to control the dead. With this place buried, who knew how many remains were scattered throughout. Still, she wasn’t ready to leave yet.