Night of a Thousand Lights: A Light In The Darkness

by Jacey Sturch

  As she locks up the archive once more and leaves, she faces us one more time. “A word of warning. Even our scholars know almost nothing about the queen’s homeland of Riswen. The people of Riswen are mysterious. There is no telling what the queen is capable of. You would be wise to be wary around her when you enter the castle. May fortune smile upon your mission.”

  Chapter 10

  It has been days since we left the Maudan capital, Dekhesir. We stop at the village of Spring Hollow, near the Maudan border, for the night so we can rest and send another message to the capital city headquarters. When we enter the main area of the Spring Hollow resistance base, we see a familiar face sitting at the dining table.

  Xavier smiles as he catches sight of us. “Raina! Leora! Good to see you two. How did things go in Maudan?” I fill him in on everything that has transpired while we were in Maudan. “We learned about a poison we could use. It can be found in a cave along the coast of the Aral Ocean. The closest village to the cave is Ebonhelm.”

  Raina nods, “That’s where we are heading next. We were just stopping to rest for the night and send a message to you all in the capital city. What are you doing here?” Xavier grins and points at himself and me. “You mean Leora and I are going to Ebonhelm. You are needed back in Embergrove. The Telun warriors arrived at the base and you would be best to help them prepare for the potential battle. You have the most combat experience of all of us, after all.”

  “Of course. I will rest for the night and return to Embergrove in the morning. We won’t need to send a messenger now; I will inform them of what happened in Maudan when I arrive.” Raina leaves to get some rest, and I soon join her, tired from the long journey from Maudan.

  The next morning, as the sun rises, Xavier, Raina, and I leave the village of Spring Hollow. We soon came to a fork in the road. Raina leaves us, continuing on to Embergrove. Meanwhile, Xavier and I continue on the road to Ebonhelm.

  We stop to rest for the night in a cave, listening to the sounds of crickets in the forest outside. The warm amber glow of the fire dances on the cave walls. Xavier breaks the silence while we are eating supper. “You know, this takes me back. Sleeping in caves, eating by a campfire. Almost feels like I am a child again.”

  “Did you do this kind of thing a lot as a child?” Xavier chuckles. “Yeah, you could say that. When I was younger, several people from my home village, including my family, fled the village and went to live in a system of caves to escape the violence of the queen’s rule. The cave system we lived in was a lot like this cave.”

  “Your family lives in caves?” Xavier's face becomes grim, staring into the distance. “Lived. They lived in caves. They don’t live in the caves anymore.” He stood from the fire and went to the mouth of the cave, staring into the inky blackness of the night.

  “One day, the royal guard found us. They had been looking for us for some time. We had gotten our food by stealing from the supply caravans, which is why I was put in charge of supply raids for the resistance. But when my family did that, we angered the guards in the area. They attacked our home. Everyone from my village either ran or was killed. I had been out gathering information about the next caravan. When I came back, the caves were empty. Everyone was gone.”

  I go to join Xavier at the mouth of the cave, hoping to offer some comfort. “Xavier, I am so sorry.” Xavier seems to come back to himself, and plasters a smile on his face, much like when we hid in Isabelle’s shop. “There is still some hope. I didn’t find my families’ bodies among the dead at the cave. I still hope that they were lucky enough to escape with their lives. I am sure they are alive somewhere, and when all this is over, I am going to search the entire kingdom for them. That is why I joined the resistance. I had hoped that I would find a lead on where my family went.”

  I smile, placing a hand on his shoulder. “When we have defeated Queen Aetheria, I will help you find your family any way I can.” Xavier smiles genuinely, nodding his thanks. We sit in silence for several minutes, watching the stars, before we retire for the night.

  We rise with the sun and continue the journey to Ebonhelm. By the end of day, we see the village in the distance. The skies are dark and stormy, giving the village a gloomy atmosphere. Just beyond the village is the Aral ocean, waves crashing against the coast, the wind howling around us. The rain comes down in torrents as we approach the village. Once we are ensconced in the resistance base in the village, we relax slightly, glad to be out of the wind and rain.

  The leader of this branch, a portly woman with graying hair named Abigail, greets us in the entrance to the base, leading us to the dining area. “So, what brings you two here? You surely didn’t come for the scenery.” Xavier and I explain everything to her, about the plan and the poison plant that we are looking for.

  I hand her the page I received in Maudan about the plant we are seeking. “I was told that this plant grows in a cave along the coast here. Have you seen a plant like this growing around here? Or know any cave that we could look in?” She looks troubled before responding.

  “There is only one place it could be; there aren’t many caves on the coast.” Xavier grins, “That’s perfect. That’ll make finding the plant that much easier.” Abigail shakes her head. “It may be easier to find, but not easier to get to. The cave is along the sheer cliff face, thirty feet high. The only way to get to the cave is to rappel down. The current is too strong at the bottom of the cliffs to climb up. It’s incredibly dangerous to get to the cave.”

  Xavier looks discouraged, and I feel discouraged as well. But I try not to let it show, pushing those feelings aside. “It may be hard, but we have to try. We cannot give up just because we are faced with adversity. I will go to the cliffs first thing in the morning, if someone can show me the way.”

  Abigail agrees and says that she will have someone show me and Xavier to the cliffs in the morning. With that settled, we all prepare for a good night’s sleep, anxiously awaiting what is to come in the morning.

  Soon, the sun is rising and our group is going towards the cliffs. The wind is howling as we approach the cliff’s edge; The wind is so strong that it feels like I will fly away. I look over the edge of the cliff and see waves crashing against the jagged rocks below. Storm clouds brew along the horizon, promising powerful storms to come.

  As I look down, I see along the face of the cliff what appears to be an opening. That must be the cave. Our guide turns to us. “Ok, this is as far as I go. You want to be out of the cave by high tide; it can flood in there during that time. Here is some rope. Good luck.” He leaves us standing at the cliffs and returns to the base.

  Xavier turns to me, with his signature grin on his face. “So, I’ll go down and look for the plant. When I am ready, I will pull on the rope twice. Then you pull me up.” He grabs for the rope, but I stop him. “There is a problem with that plan, I may not be able to pull you back up. It will be better if I go down there. I am smaller, and therefore I will be easier to pull back up.” Xavier doesn’t look happy by the suggestion but does acknowledge that I am right. He begrudgingly helps me attach myself to the rope.

  We tie one end of the rope to a sturdy tree and the other around my waist. I walk towards the edge of the cliff and glance over the side at the waves crashing against the rocks below. Xavier looks at me with a grim face. “Remember, once you find the plant, or if you need to get out, pull on the rope twice. Please be safe.” I nod and slowly lower myself down the cliffside.

  Step by step, I descend the face of the cliff. The rocky surface is jagged and unstable. Every time I step on the face of the cliff, rocks come free and plunge to the water below. Suddenly, I lose purchase on the rock and slide down several feet. I scrape up my arms and legs but am able to stop my fall. From above, I hear Xavier call out, “Leora! Are you all right?” I yell back to him, “Yes, I am okay.”

  I continue down the cliff and soon reach the cave opening. Once I am standing in the mouth of the cave, I call up to Xavier, “Xavier! I am in the cave.
I am going to go look for the plant.” I hear his voice, but I cannot hear him clearly over the crashing of the waves. I make sure the rope is still tied to my waist securely, and then venture further into the cave.

  Soon I am surrounded by darkness, feeling my way along the cave wall. I slowly move further into the cave, all the while trying to look for the Hyxyl plant. Just as I am about to turn around, thinking that I had gone the wrong way and that it has to almost be high tide, I see light ahead.

  I walk towards the light, glad to see something in the darkness. The light grows brighter, and I come into an opening in the cave. The opening is lit by what appear to be glowing crystals, giving off a blue glow. The sound of running water fills the room. There is a small waterfall at the back of the opening, feeding into a small pool in the center of the room. And there, growing out of the water, is the Hyxyl plant.

  I rush toward it, and gather as much of the plant as I can carry, unsure of how much I might need. I wrap the Hyxyl in a cloth and place it in my satchel. I turn to leave but stop when I hear a rumbling noise coming from behind me.

  I turn back and see that the flow of the waterfall has increased rapidly. I realize with dread what is happening. High tide. The pool in the center of the chamber begins to overflow. The chamber itself begins to fill with water, the water coming from other cracks in the rock walls now. I race out of the chamber, trying to get back to the mouth of the cave. I feel water underneath me as I run and realize in horror that the water has already started catching up to me. I run through the darkness, trying to ignore the pounding of my heart.

  In my head, I hear my father’s voice. No matter how bad things seem, do not panic. If you panic, you have already lost. If I panic, then I won’t make it. I have to focus on getting out of here. Finding my way back is easier, all I have to do is follow the rope. The water has risen to my thighs by now, making it harder to move. Soon, the current of the water knocks me off my feet.

  I am pushed and pulled in every direction, and become disoriented in the water. I try to get air, but I can’t get my head above water. I struggle to break free of the current, my lungs screaming for air. Just as I feel like I may pass out, I am able to break the surface of the water. I pull in ragged gasps of air, relieved to be breathing.

  Once I can see again, I continue following the rope to the mouth of the cave. The current gets stronger and now the water level is up to my chest. Finally, I see the light from the mouth of the cave. The water’s current pushes me closer and closer to the mouth of the cave. Then it pushes me outside of the cave. I fall closer to the ocean, quickly approaching the water.

  I gather myself and grab onto the cliff face, stopping my fall. I hang onto the rocks with all my strength. I try calling to Xavier, but he can’t hear me over the roar of the winds and rushing water. I slowly let go of the cliff with one hand, reaching out desperately to grasp the rope once more. I grab hold of it and tug on the rope twice. I feel the rope start to pull me up, and I climb the rocks as best I can.

  I reach the edge of the cliff and haul myself back onto flat land. My chest is heaving as I fight to catch my breath, the adrenaline leaving my body. The cold wind chills me to the bone, my wet clothes not helping matters. Xavier comes to kneel by my side, a worried look on his face. Before he can say anything, I pull out the wrapped Hyxyl plant that thankfully hadn’t been pulled away in the water. Xavier smiles, recognizing the plant from the sketched page.

  “You found it! This is great!” I stand from the ground, giving him a weary smile. “Now we have everything we need. Let’s go back to the capital. It’s time to defeat Aetheria.”

  Chapter 11

  We leave Ebonhelm the next day as the sun is beginning to set, planning to travel under the cover of darkness to avoid detection. It is several days before we approach Embergrove. The moon has just risen into the sky when we near the city. The forests as we approach the city are strangely quiet.

  We crest a hill, and stop at the tree line of the forest to look over the fields before the city. Xavier frowns, seeing the surplus of guards patrolling the perimeter of the city walls.

  “Why are they all out here? There’s never been this many guards at the walls.” I pull him back into the safety of the shadows from the forests. “It doesn’t matter why they are here right now. We can figure that out later. Right now, let’s focus on how to get past them and into the city.” Xavier nods and watches the guards for several minutes, studying the patterns of their movements.

  He straightens up and turns to face me, a look of determination on his face. “Here is the plan. With the current routes the guards are following, there is about a two-minute window when there is a path to the wall. If we move fast, we can take advantage of that gap.”

  Xavier is right, there is a small amount of time where there are no guards between us and the wall. “Two minutes isn’t a lot of time to get all the way to the wall.” Xavier points at some large rocks and other debris that are dotted across the field. “We can hide behind those when the guards return. Then when they leave again, we can continue. The hardest part will be actually opening the entrance in the wall before they come back.” I take a deep breath, steeling my nerves. “All right, I am ready when you are.”

  The next time the guards leave, we start moving slowly across the field. We duck behind a rock when the guards reappear and wait with baited breath for them to call out. Wait for someone to spot us. But the sound of the alarm never came.

  We continue slowly making our way towards the wall, pausing to hide behind debris whenever the guards return. Eventually, we are close enough to the wall to spot where the secret entrance would be.

  The next time the guards leave, we rush to the wall and cling to the shadows. Xavier pushes on the false wall, revealing the tunnel. We quickly enter the tunnel and swing the wall closed again, sealing us in the darkness of the tunnel.

  We get to the metal door at the end of the tunnel and are immediately let in after we knock. The base is considerably busier than the last time I was here, as the Telun warriors are also milling about the base.

  Clarina sees us from across the room and pushes her way through the crowd. “It’s good to see you two. With all the guards outside, we were all worried you would be caught on your way in.” I give her a small, weary smile, still tired from the long journey. “Thankfully the guards left a blind spot in their routes. It took some time, but we were able to get across unseen.”

  Xavier gives Clarina an inquisitive look. “Why are there so many extra guards patrolling the city? What has happened?” Clarina shakes her head, sighing. “We don’t know. We just woke up one morning a few days ago and they were there. Almost walked out of the tunnel, directly in front of them. Thankfully we heard their footsteps before we opened the door. It’s been days and they never leave. It’s been almost impossible to leave the city. Aetheria has locked the gates, and only royal caravans are allowed in and out. She increased the guards inside the city as well. We can hardly leave the base without being spotted.”

  This is troubling news. Xavier seems equally as troubled, “Sounds like Aetheria is nervous about something. Did something happen?” Clarina just shakes her head. “Nothing that we have heard about. Not in the city or the other villages. None of us are sure what prompted this or what she may have heard. We don’t think she knows about us though, or her guards would have stormed in here instead of patrolling the wall. Unless she means to starve us out, that is.”

  That catches my attention and Xavier’s. “What do you mean, starve you out? Are supplies that low?” Clarina simply sighs. “We have not been able to get out of the base, let alone raid for supplies. Food is getting scarce among other supplies. We were hoping now that you are back Xavier, you could help come up with a plan for a supply run? That is your area of expertise, after all.” Xavier nods and heads into the planning room, already muttering ideas to himself.

  Clarina and I follow him into the room, where I see Raina, Isabelle, and Willem. Raina smiles whe
n she spots me and Xavier. “Glad to see you two made it through the horde of guards outside.” I smile back at her, glad to see that she made it back safe. “I’m glad you made it through, too, Raina. Did you have any trouble with them?”

  Raina shakes her head. “Luck was on my side. I arrived the day before the guard patrols appeared.” Xavier drew closer to the map on the table, already pointing out potential spots for an ambush on a supply chain. When I look around the room, I notice a missing face. “Where is Geron?”

  Willem, moving closer to Xavier to observe what he was pointing at on the map, answers my question. “Geron left the base right after Raina arrived. He is gathering intel on when the next acquisition is so that we can plant you in the right village for the next stage of the plan. We haven’t heard from him since the guards appeared. It is our hope that he simply hasn’t gotten the information yet or hasn’t been able to get a message to us because of the increase in the number of guards.”

  Xavier straightens up, as though he was just struck with an idea. “Those extra guards could be our ticket to more supplies.” We all turn to look at Xavier, confused as to how the guards could be anything good for us. “Xavier? What do you mean? How can the extra guards help us?” Xavier looks at me with his signature smirk back in place.