by Ben Alderson
Beyond its beauty was the reality that our destination was a short walk away and with it was Nyah.
“We must be smart if we are to save Nyah and her companions,” Kell said. “Those who dwell in the ruins of the once great city of Merrik have not been seen, nor interacted with in many moons. I can imagine they will not be pleased to see us. With the setting of the sun, those Blaze Wielders will not be as powerful as they would be during the day. But they still have great magick, be prepared.”
“Forgive me for stating what could be the obvious, but would it not be ideal to have a plan before we just stroll into the old city?” Fadine asked, dusting sand from her shoulders. The metals of her uniform clinked as she hooked a finger in her collar and pulled it for a moment of relief. For once, wearing this uniform, the temperature didn’t bother me.
“There is no time for plans,” I snapped, ready to unleash my force on the unexpecting Morthi in Merrik. “Nyah has waited long enough. We go in, find her, and do everything to get her out. She has been through enough trying to save me, it is our time to repay the debt.”
“There would be no plan that would help us in this city,” Kell warned.
“Do you know how many there are within Merrik?” Hadrian asked, his fists clenched and knocking against his leg.
“Enough that they will easily cease our efforts in a fight,” Kell admitted. “We will not be going into the city ruins looking for a battle. We must be calm, hope that they give us a chance to explain.”
“And if they don’t?” I said, annoyed at the leash Kell’s words had put on me. I would not be able to fight, not straight away.
“Then you better unleash every inch of power you all have and hope all six of us make it back out alive.”
Illera and Emaline had their hands clasped together, a united force prepared to face anything together. Hadrian must have spotted it as I had because he soon took my hand and squeezed it.
“For Nyah,” Hadrian said, aloud to the group.
“For Nyah,” we chorused back to him.
“Come and see what waits amongst the ruins,” Kell said, taking lead and walking up the steep slope into the waiting danger beyond it. “Be vigilant.”
WE WALKED IN single file, hoods up to protect ourselves for the sudden dip in warmth as dusk faded into night. As my booted feet trudged through the heavy sands, I contemplated on the many possibilities the following moments would bring.
What state would we find Nyah in? Had her brothers, as pesky as they were, found a way to be free before they were captured? How many Alorian soldiers had been on the ship with her and how many were still alive? Time would tell.
I passed beneath an arched wall that must have been the old entrance. Even with the rusted hinges hanging off in tatters to my side, I could imagine clearly the grand door that must’ve been here before. Once we passed under, it was clear we stood in what must have been the main street of the once grand city. Like an artery, the pathway went on for as far as the eye could see before us. Cobbled stones hardly visible beneath the history of debris and sand. On all sides broken homes and buildings littered the sidewalks. Walls had fallen onto one another, strange weeds wrapped around most surfaces. This place was no more than a graveyard of spirits and destruction.
“Even in its state of ruin, this city is—was huge,” Illera said from the back of the line.
From what little of the old city I could see it was clear the pure scale it once was. The first layer was mostly leveled, left only a few buildings half standing. But I could see in the far distance outlines of many yellowed-stoned buildings which cut into the dark sky.
“It will be a challenge to find her. Where do we start?” Emaline added.
“By checking every possible shadow and place of hiding,” I answered, my voice as stern as my gaze which hadn’t stopped scrutinizing the view ahead of me. “But I have other means to speed up our search.”
“Be careful,” Hadrian hushed in my ear. “We do not know much about the Morthi. If you use your magick they might sense it which will ruin our sense of surprise.”
Hadrian knew I could search for life with my magick. Checking the wind for secrets, asking it to tell me where the life is. A single breath would alter me to their location.
“I will be careful,” I said, unblinking. “They will not sense me, not unless I want them too.”
“What are you both talking about?” Kell asked.
I explained what I could do. Kell looked as pleased with my idea as I was.
“If they do pick up on it, we must be ready,” Kell said, talking to the entire group. Everyone already had a hand on their weapons, in case they needed to pull them free for use. “But this will save us much, precious, time.”
“Don’t know about you, but I’m ready. It’s been a boring time so far, a little tussle wouldn’t hurt too much,” Emaline said.
“Go ahead, Petal,” Hadrian urged me on, although his worried stare clearly stated that he did not want me to go ahead with this idea. “Ask your winds for aid.”
For better concentration, I closed my eyes. Raising my hands, open palms, to the sky I envisioned the silver strands of my air. The bright light filled my mind, sending shivers of pleasure across my skin. One moment I was standing in place, the next I was everywhere.
My presence flowed through the city, skittering across stone, sand and sky. I felt the city in ways I would never have thought possible. I felt the birds which flew above us, circling the city in hopes to find prey. I felt small creatures running across the dry ground in hopes to escape their hunter. In my mind, I could see what it once was, before another power came and destroyed it.
As I explored the ruins, Cristilia’s voice filled my mind. She told me of the Air Dragori and how he unleashed his dark power, causing chaos. I could see it as clear as if the story played out before me. Walls breaking under the powerful force as it ravaged the city and those who screamed in terror within it.
Stronger than any storm I’d encountered, the power was intoxicating. I toppled the tallest of buildings, sent bodies flying amongst the twisting twisters that devoured anything within its path. In the deep parts of my mind I was scared. My own magick picked up on the traces of memories left, warning me of what could come if I lost control.
As I forgot what I was doing, I sensed movement. There. In the heart of the city, a building, newer than the rest, stood waiting. I sensed the shift of air within it, ripples against the wind that filled the many rooms. In and out. I could hear those inside breathing as if it was I who inhaled and exhaled. Snaking through the maze of stone spaces, I brushed across skin, hair and blood. My air recoiled from it.
I retracted my magick as fast as it allowed me to. Coming out of it so quickly caused my head to feel light, enough for me to stumble as I came back into myself.
“Zacriah,” Hadrian said, gripping my arms and keep my upright. “Steady now.”
At first, I saw double of everyone, but that soon settled.
“Did you find them?” Kell asked, hand tightening on the handle to her sword.
“I did, and they’re close,” I answered.
“They?” Fadine asked, one brow raised into her helmet.
“I don’t know how many, but as Kell said, the numbers are grander than ours.”
Illera shared a worried look with Emaline who gritted her teeth. “But we have three powerful beasts, a shapeshifter, a girl with a horny helmet and… well, Kell. What is it you do?”
Kell shrugged. “You shall see.”
“We have the element of power on our side,” Hadrian said. “I only hope we do not need to use it.”
“Are there any Sister Shadows hiding amongst this city?” Emaline asked Kell.
“No, those who stayed here never lived beneath ground. That power never graced them.”
“Ideally, I would prefer we did not go in expecting a bloody brawl. Negotiation, that is our first attempt. When that does not work, then we can unleash everything we have in us to get Nya
h out.”
Emaline’s knuckles clicked so loud that it startled a bird on a nearby building wall. The flap of wings made everyone jump.
“You did not mention animals during your strange search!” Fadine called, biting back a curse.
“I didn’t’ think—”
“STOP!” Kell’s panic made me choke on my reply. “Be still.”
Her arms were raised out beside her, willing us all to crouch down.
“What?” Hadrian hissed, his hand ready to call forth flame.
“Those birds, they do not look for food. They look for us. The Morthi who have your friend, they will know we are here when that bird gets to them,” Kell explained as we watched the dark shape of the creature fly into the heart of the city.
“Then let’s get there before the bird does,” Hadrian said, his wings sprouting from his back and spreading wide behind me.
“Someone stop it,” Emaline snarled, lowering into a crouch and pouncing into the air. The moment her feet left the ground her wings were free and forced her in the direction of her prey.
We all ran forward. Illera moved with grace. First, she started on her legs, but soon black shadow seeped from her skin. Once it cleared the white lioness sped off into the dark, dust billowing where her large paws ripped at the ground.
Hadrian soon followed into the sky after Emaline, but I did not. I kept on the ground, shift hidden. I didn’t want to leave Kell and Fadine, the only ones without their own type of power. Not that they would not be able to look after themselves. It was more so they could keep an eye on my back.
Our feet pounded through the streets of the ruined city in chase after the bird. At this rate, our own noise would alert the Morthi before the bird arrived to divulge what it had seen.
It didn’t matter anymore.
I peered into the sky, searching for Emaline or Hadrian, but it was too dark to make them out. Only when brief spouts of flame filled the sky could I make out their location. Each explosion of fire would be followed by a large growl of frustration from Hadrian, which could only mean he had missed.
“Kill the bird, it no longer matters,” Kell panted beside me. “The fire and growling will alert them of our arrival.”
Kell searched the darkness of the inner streets, her head turning in search for an ambush or threat.
“Hadrian is not one for subtly.” Fadine scoffed, eyes rolling.
We kept our pace up, only stopping when Emaline and Hadrian were stood on the street up ahead.
“We lost it,” Hadrian said as Illera prowled in her lioness form behind him. “The damned beast was impossible to catch.”
“What now!”
“We wait,” Kell said, hand on the handle of her weapon.
On all sides we were open to an attack. We’d stopped at a crossroads of sort, giving anyone who wanted to watch us, the best view. Kell had her ears pointed towards the darkness waiting for a noise to single they were coming. Without mention or command we all moved, backs to each other, and watched the shadows of the ruined city.
“Be ready,” she said, reaching for her sword and pulling it free. She bent her knees and held the sword up in both hands.
We followed her command, each of us pulling forth our own form of weapon. Hadrian was beside me, flames licking across his two waiting hands. I could hear the swish of water from behind me were Emaline was stood and the growl of Illera who was ready to pounce beside her. I called for my wind, willing it to wait for my instruction. It hovered around my hands, twisting silver trails which linked in and out of my twitching fingers.
I squinted into the street ahead of me and could see shadows detach from walls and walk forward. I had to look carefully to decipher if it was a trick of the dark, or reality. And it was real.
Countless figures walked in a line, side by side, towards us. Risking a glance towards the two other streets I could see out the corner of my eye I saw the same. More outlines of figures walking towards us.
The entire group tensed, readying ourselves to fight.
“A little birdie told us to expect visitors, we have been waiting for your arrival,” a voice rained out, but I couldn’t pinpoint where it came from. “Lay down your weapons, your magicks, and let us talk. I am sure you do not want to cause a scene, and neither do we.”
“We are here for the girl you have taken,” I called out, unable to keep myself quiet. The unseen voice did not scare me. I had faced worse. We all had.
“Of course,” the voice called back. My mind picked up the familiar voice and recognized it above the rest. It was as if it wanted me to know she was here. Nyah.
“Listen to them, Zac,” Nyah called out, stepping forward into the weak beam of light. She looked untouched, not marked by pain at all.
It’s safe. Her voice filled my mind.
“What is going on?” Hadrian shouted.
Nyah took another step forward, hands raising to show she is fine. “I’m sorry for the means of getting you here, but let us all talk. It will make sense once you hear these people out.”
NYAH DIDN’T TURN back to look at me. Not during the entire walk through the ruins of Merrik. Not when we were escorted passed crumbled walls and shells of old homes. Not when she leaned in close to the elven man she followed, her lips moving but not a sound flowing out of them.
Every time I swallowed I was greeted with the strange taste of concern. Something was terribly off here. Different. A different that twists my anxious mind into a knot of overwhelming emotions and thoughts. I tried reaching for Nyah across our connection, but she didn’t respond. She showed no sign that she even felt my attempt to speak with her.
This was not what I expected. Far from it.
Hadrian took my clammy hand in his without caring. His fingers linked perfectly with mine, tethering me back to reality as we followed the many Morthi. He held on so tight I could feel his heart beat between our clasping grasp. Or was it mine? It was hard to differentiate as we both shared in the unknowing that was to follow.
The group slowed down as we rounded towards a newer building. It felt the same as the one I’d sensed during my search of the city. Dark outlines of large birds circled the skies above the towering block, some filtering in and out of dark covey holes far at the top of the building.
They were the same as the one that spied on us, long black wings, pointed amber beaks. Beady eyes which seemed to know more than I cared to find out.
Made from a lighter color than the many ruined homes around it, this once stood tall. Fresh bricks layered on top of each other, glassless windows glowed with orange from within. Flapping curtains left half-drawn, barely hiding the watching faces of many who peaked on us from their heights.
This place was no military base. No fortitude of weapon and war.
Clothes, rugs and other materials had been hung out the windows to dry. I spotted the garments thanks to the movement of people watching from within squared windows. They stood back from the windows enough that their features were cloaked, but their outlines were not.
“None of them are armed,” Hadrian whispered, following my pinched stare. “They should be, from what we have heard it does not make sense.”
Amongst the movement of the windows I didn’t spot the glinting of silver and steel. Those who watched were no more than children, beardless and youthful. Not Warriors.
“Nothing is making sense,” I replied. “There is something very strange going on with Nyah. This is not like her to ignore us completely. These people, they don’t seem as hostile as I thought they would.” Or hoped. I didn’t want to admit it aloud, but part of me needed a fight. Maybe it was the dark presence that had burrowed itself deep into my very soul that made me feel these ways.
“I count us lucky,” Hadrian whispered. “So far. Anything can change.”
We entered the courtyard of the base, under another arched wall reminiscent of the one we had walked through to enter the once great city. We followed a pathway in silence, passing numerous pillars which
dwarfed us all from either side. Each had a large pedestal on their rounded tops, a place for the many dark birds to perch on and watch us walk beneath them.
Flames burned in brass holders, untouched by the subtle winds. They shone across each slab of stone we passed over. The moon acted as the main source of light.
The doors to the main building were flanked by civilians. Their faces where covered in masks of a kind, only showing a sliver of their eyes which were a mixture of obsidian and stars. Each held a curved blade the length of their arms. The handles were wrapped in a dark leather, mirroring the choice of dark clothing they wore. Tight trousers clung to their long legs and corseted long-sleeved shirts highlighted their taunt, yet slim frames.
The closer I got, the more I expected them to raise their blades in warning. But to my surprise, they did not. Before they opened the doors, they bowed their heads, ever so slightly, in our direction. It was a brief display of respect, enough that Hadrian noticed. Perhaps they knew they were in the company of distant royalty. Perhaps they were just not the monsters Kell had made them out to be.
If I was impressed with the grand features of the exterior, I was amazed beyond belief when we entered the building. Long corridors flanked by doors of smooth wood, each still clinging to the smells of their origins.
Carpets, each woven with detailed images and vibrate colors. I almost felt guilty to walk across them, scared I would ruin the art and skill. Curved glassless windows showed glimpses into the many rooms we walked past. I could see the interested faces of younglings and their elders who hovered above them, each with a different emotion plastered across their faces. But the one thing they each had in common, they all tipped their heads as we passed.
I looked towards our guides to see if they were in fact the source of this admiration from the elves watching. But they showed no sign that they noticed. Not a single one looked me in the eye long enough for me to decipher what they were thinking.