The cave protruded from the stone flats below like an outstretched grasp of stone emerging from the ground level beneath. The overhang sweeping over the land, a tidal wave of solid rock and dirt. Massive stalactite shaped fingers descended from the edges of the cliffside of the structure.
With the sky giving way to dusk, standing torches basked in a bronze glow surrounded the camp in circular fashion, spanning well past where any movement resided. Under the awning of stone, dozens of tents took up residence, reeking of semi-permanence. Structures set up, across the open dirt, hard to make out from a distance, but too small to be structures of housing themselves.
Slania and Bonnikyn stood from a distanced cliffside, and Laresse breathed with effort as she made the steep ascent to join them after tying off the coursers back near the underbrush. The air was not enough to be brisk, but cool enough to bring refreshment as it filled the lungs.
Tracking the movements of the Cosantaires had proven difficult to say the least, but luckily, they managed to stay in physical form during their flight, leaving hoofprints in their wake. There had been numerous times where the tracks split and diverted to attempt distraction, and others where the tracks disappeared entirely. But alas, after few days pass, the Cosantaire encampment was on the near horizon.
Down below dozens of the Cosantaires moved about the camp, far too many to take on at once. Even for Slania’s unyielding wrath. Beyond the torches Laresse could make out shadows moving about in the darkness scouting the outer reaches of their newfound territory.
Bonnie scanned the scene below, “Won’t be fighting out way through this one.”
Slania reluctantly nodded, “More than like, he’s at the innermost tent at the cave’s entrance, if not inside it.”
Laresse add in, “What’s inside the cave?”
“If they’re willing to fortify themselves around it, on another wisp’s turf, something worth knowing.” Slania let herself down on the western edge of the cliffside, out of sight from the Cosantaires.
Bonnie’s gaze lingered on the encampment before joining Slania. “I don’t think he’ll be coming out willingly.”
Slania smirked, “Then we’ll bring him out ourselves.”
For once, Bonnikyn’s puzzlement rivaled Laresse’s. She spoke slowly as she simultaneously contemplated Slania’s mindset, “Despite the imminent snare? Surely they planned on us giving pursuit.”
Slania nodded, searching the immediate area for something.
Laresse, “We wouldn’t stand a chance with that many. We’d never make it past the first row of tents.”
Slania, “I’m counting on it.” Slania found a steep, yet manageable path downwards. Taking the first few steps she pressed her back towards the nearest tree trunk, waiting for Bonnie and Laresse.
Laresse, “You’re counting on our capture?!”
Slania, “I’m counting on they want us alive for whatever purpose that may be at Basaixe.”
Moving silently but swiftly, Bonnie was next to join her. “It is logical, they did not resolve to deadly force until we rejected the notion of capture. However, I do not think they will be fond of our work on their slain.”
Peering across the line of trees that littered the path down towards the encampment, Slania made for the closest one. Forcing Laresse to follow lest to be left behind.
The three sat crouched behind a thin elm, that was barely thick enough to cover Slania, the sporadic roots were enough to hide behind at the base for Bonnie and Laresse. Slania whispered, “The captain refrained from deadly force, despite the use of ours. There is more to this than they led on.”
She drew the other two in closer, “We strike true however. Bonnie will draw their attention at the central torches, eastmost of here. I will take your parallel Laresse, on the northern flank, and spectral step within range of Bonnie to draw them towards us. Laresse you will fall to the southern flank and spectral step as deep as you can towards the encampment’s center.”
Sternly eying Laresse, “You are to not fight back when caught. Immediately bend the knee and surrender to capture.” When? So much for faith.
“There are many questions we need answering, and perhaps the best way to get them answered is to play their game, and let them reveal the answers to us.”
Bonnie spoke as surefooted as Slania now. “Night is beginning to descend upon the camp, we should make our move sooner versus later. They are more likely to anticipate an attack under the cover of darkness.” Bonnikyn trusts the strategy, perhaps there is method to the madness.
Slania placed the seeker mask over face, “Let us make haste.”
Laresse moved about the trees silently, and the three Daughters began their descent towards the Cosantaire encampment. Step by step, the torches became brighter and clearer into view, and Bonnie and Slania spread further out from her line of sight. Soon it will be all on you. To oblivion with her faith, I will drag the captain out myself.
Laresse shifted about in the shadows, using the cover of darkness to shroud her figure. The underbrush and sparse tree line were at nears end. Soon it will be entirely upon the spectral step to remain unseen.
The line of torches was within reach, her back against the last of the trees before the sparse cover of the stone flats. Gazing out at the torches, she began plotting her route through the camp. She took slow controlled breaths as she stilled her herself.
Laresse turned her head from the camp for the last time, making to take her breath into spectral step, she let the herself fall into the shadow’s embrace. While the physical realm began to blur, brown-black eyes stared wide not a decimeter from her face.
Before she could fade from her physical form or return from her exposed state, a large sweaty hand swept over her mouth and clasped it shut, muffling her yelp for breath. The force of his weight slammed her against the tree’s trunk, snapping her fully to the physical form. In her desperate struggle for air, the salty taste of sweat was the only substance that crept past her lips.
“Shhh, witch. Struggling will just make it worse.” Brutus whispered in her ear while his freehand came down with the blunt end of the sword against her temple. The darkness of night flashed a bright white before fading to darkness once more.
Laresse’s eyes flickered open to the movement of the stone flats beneath her. Loose dirt kicked up with each step, she attempted to raise her head with futile effort, weighed down by the reverberant ringing in her ears.
A burly figure threw her down, another blunt impact shocking her senses again, the cold stone caught Laresse, her eyes scanning to make sense of the situation. Brutus, it was Brutus… tightening restraints on her wrists and ankles, now bound around a wooden pillar.
His form phased in and out of focus as her vision swirled around her. She was pressed with her back against two others… Bonnikyn and Slania…. Each bound at the wrists with thick coiled rope. Which gives no budge, damnit. She could not see their faces, but the obsidian cloaks were certainly theirs.
Content with his work, Brutus turned from the tent without so much as a glance behind him.
Pushing through the pulsating pain, Laresse cautiously lifted her head to scan her surroundings, from what little line of sight given. A stained canvas tent hued in graphite grey, held them from view of the rest of the encampment.
Either the graphite canvas was too dark to see outside movement, or the nearby surroundings were still, but it was unclear how deep into the encampment they were taken. The tent itself was rather large, especially for that containing prisoners. Thin wooden beams gave support at the corners and edges, all rising at an angle together towards the center’s peak. Where the central pillar held the binds.
Laresse felt the warmth of a moving wrist beside her own. From the corner of her eye, she could see the outline of Slania’s garb on her left. “Slania, are you awake?”
Her words pushed through with exasperated effort, “When did they take you? Are you injured?” Slania struggled in vain to get a better glance at Laresse.
Slowly shaking her head, and with an audible sigh, Laresse conceded, “The one they called Brutus took me by surprise before I could even step past the torches.”
The lingering stench of defeat hung in the silence, but after a long passing, Slania responded, “They took us before the torches as well.” As if the words caught in her throat, “We did not sense them coming in the slightest, until they were already upon us.”
On her right, Laresse felt movement at her other wrist. “A ward of some kind, from within the torches. They spectral stepped from within the encampment, carrying the effects until they emerged into their physical forms.”
Slania’s tone was filled with self-inflicted irritation, “We should have seen that coming. Are you alright, Bonnikyn?”
“What’s done is done, our planned result was still the outcome.” Bonnikyn maneuvered about her binds despite her calm demeanor, dragging them back and forth along the smooth wood. After some futile attempts, she went motionless, and exhaled a whisper in dismay, “I cannot reach Duharrae in these binds.” I had not even considered to try -
Despite her heart racing in her chest, Laresse attempted to slow her pace, and spectral step from her binds. Nothing, nothing at all. It is as if we are cut from eneryia itself.
Slania kept her voice low, “That may be better news than the surface suggests.”
Laresse whipped her head in attempt to face Slania, “How does that benefit our situation?!”
The three Daughters grew still as the crunch of boots on dirt and stone approached in crescendo, at least two. Slania whispered softly, “It means they anticipated to capture us alive.”
The flap to the tent swept open while Captain Aidan Dacus, and his lacky Brutus, marched inside, with some other Cosantaire of similar stature. Contempt washed over the room from the three Daughters glaring at their captors, to the three men standing before them.
“You know, I expected more after your display the other day.” The captain leaned against a post near the three Daughters while the other two Cosantaires watched in silence, standing statuette as his guards.
From his belt he pulled Slania’s seeker mask and toyed with it in his hands.
“Slania Oex. It is Slania right?” Holding up the mask in front of his face, “This is quite the trinket you have here. Certainly not of a traditional Melacalyan forge. One might even say, it has certain components one would find in The Antherope Sanctum, no?”
Pointing beside Slania, at the ambilos gauntlet in particular, “And you, you must be Bonnikyn Lapyr. I’ve heard much about you as well.”
Fixing an odd glance at Laresse, he walked past her. “I don’t know you, but that’s no matter.”
Slania stared the captain down while he casually paced beside them. None of the Daughters gave reply.
Conceding to the silence, the captain continued, tossing the mask on a nearby table. “You know I was worried we’d have to track you down again. Brutus here however, was betting on you three giving chase.”
Brutus gave Laresse a sadistic grin that sent chills down her spine. In spite of it, she glared right back, “With how quickly we cut through your men, I’d be wary of accepting that invitation.” Someone’s wrists slammed on top of Laresse’s, I don’t care.
The captain nodded while he paced around them, making his way beside Laresse. “You certainly spilled a lot of blood, the reputation of ‘Duharrae’s Daughters’ did not disappoint.” Lifting his head from Laresse he glanced back at Brutus. “Brutus, how many Cosantaires did we lose that day?”
With that same sinister grin, Brutus answered back, “That would be zero, captain.”
Getting up and continuing his route around the three of them, the captain went on, this time stopping beside Slania, “You didn’t think men of Telatis would bleed that easily, did you?”
Laresse silently rotated her wrist back and forth against her binds. We’ll find out soon enough.
Moving to the table that was set up in the corner, he took a seat at the stool that was placed before it. Pulling a quill and ink glass out from the drawer within, he began scribing on a paper he retrieved from within his chest pocket. “Luckily, the coin spent on the fodder will be generously replaced.”
Slania, “Coin?”
The captain gave her a perplexed look before returning to his writings, “Mercenaries are not free, Miss Oex.”
Slania took the shift in conversation, “Despite the differences between our guilds, you would deliver the people of your own realm into the hands of the Terros Enclave?”
Aidan, “Don’t worry there will be a trial.”
Slania, “A trial on Novus Terros soil, doesn’t sound like a trial to me.
Without lifting his head this time, “Should have considered that before hunting down their ambassadors.”
Slania pushed, “What has you so aligned with the outcasts?”
The captain got up from his stool, lightly blowing on the ink before folding the paper in half, and handing it over to Brutus. With a sigh he knelt beside Slania, but saved his gaze for Bonnikyn.
Gently tapping the ambilos gauntlet with his finger, “You’re not the only ones chasing down prophecies.”
Before any of the Daughters could give reply, the captain stood and motioned to Brutus and the other guard. “Gather them up, let’s prepare them for Basaixe.”
Brutus and the other Cosantaire each unbound their prisoners from the pillar and rebound the wrists behind their backs. The stench from Brutus alone, forced Laresse to turn her head away and cough. He chuckled to himself while he dragged her upright and shoved her alongside Bonnikyn and Slania.
With her back facing Bonnikyn’s, Laresse tugged on her binds with increased exertion until Captain Aidan opened the flap to the tent.
One by one the Daughters walked through with the captain at the front, and the other two guards at the rear.
Brutus shoved her through the tent flap by the palm of his hand against her head. In spite of herself, she staggered forward, and recoiled from the harshness of the daylight. Drawn to the darkened light levels, two men stood sentry at the pathway that led into the cave itself. Interesting.
Both Slania and Bonnikyn shared a glance towards the inner pathway that led inside. There is something worth the gander down there.
With a shove forward, Laresse scouted the encampment while they walked, much larger than it looks from above. Once they passed the innermost tents within the cave’s mouth, a large structure made from dark oaken trunks and stretched canvas hued with accents in crimson bronze rested alongside their path.
The confined Daughters’ marched along the fence line separating them from the training ground enclosed within. In the far corner an archery was set up with targets of various heights and distances littered at the far end of the section. Nearest to the side with the Daughters, various posts were staggered along drag strips with two men in full thickened leathers were positioned.
Each donning a crimson cloak that seems to be symbolic within their guild, the two men grasped a body height spear in one hand. Statuette and still as stone, each stood either sentry, or waiting for something.
An explosive crack coming within the barracks sent both men sprinting along the drag strip. Half way towards the first obstacle each man in unison pulled their spears into throwing position. Not a moment later both spears were spent into the heads of their wooden targets, at precise impact, each man fell into spectral step, and they were gone.
They emerged one by one beside their target, barely taking on their physical form, grabbing their spears and spiraling their bodies simultaneously falling back into spectral step. The second target repeated the attack with similar gusto, though when they emerged, neither retrieved their spears.
For the third and final target both men reappeared, one slightly ahead of the other, continuing at a strenuous pace towards the target. Once more the men fell into the shadows – only to emerge above their targets nearly six meters above…
Stalling their physical form as they had the first two targets, both men appeared a blur while a bright purple orb manifested in their place. Upon fading out from the physical form entirely, the remaining vibrant orbs of chaos hovered standstill for the split of a second before descending violently down in at their targets.
Two thunderous crashes erupted on impact, splintering wood in all directions. Far beyond the explosions, the two men reemerged from the shadows in an offensive stance, ready to strike again.
All three Daughters were watching intently as the Cosantaires marched them past the barracks. How did they manage to get so high in the air before dropping the shadow bomb? The captain took notice of the curiosity plain on their faces, “The rogue arts harbor more than you can fathom.”
Slania threw in, “The precision of your strikes are archaic.”
The remainder of their escort through the encampment was taken in silence. With every step, Laresse kept her arms tense, tugging at the binds digging into her wrists.
The tents were neatly organized in rows, leaving plenty of room in grid fashion to walk between sections. After a few turns, the captain brought them to one of the guarded tents, and one by one the Daughters were led inside.
The inner sections of this tent were much more decorated, despite the temporary nature of the furniture. With even some local plant life in terracotta pots near the desk at the center point of the room.
A man with bronzed hair combed over the balding of his head, seemingly slightly older than captain Aidan, sat behind the desk with organized stacks of papers on either side of him. Upon the group’s approach he glanced up from his papers, scanning each in turn, before returning to his paperwork with clear disinterest.
The captain stood in front of his three prisoners, “This here is Slania Oex, and Bonnikyn Lapyr of the Daughters of Duharrae. We have fulfilled Royhus’ contract.”
The man began rummaging through one of his stacks of papers. Without lifting his head or voice, “And what of the third one?”
The captain looked Laresse up and down, “Not one of the others, but a Daughter nonetheless. See what he will pay for the additional capture.”
Slania broke in, “Coin for mercenaries, coin for Daughters of Duharrae. And what price were we worth to sell to a rebel realm?”
Ignoring Slania, the man selected two sheets from his stack of papers and laid each out separately in front of him. In the midst of writing, “And a ship at Basaixe?”
The captain nodded. “In a week’s time.”
Slania took a step towards the captain. “Is it your Arbhant aiding them across the border?
The captain turned his back to Slania and made for the front of the tent, “It is no concern of yours what duties fall to our Arbhant.”
Laresse watched it in slow motion, all within the blink of an eye. Slania thrust herself full force at the captain, knocking him into the central pillar as he walked in front of it. Pressing her shoulder into his sternum and knocking the wind out from him. “Why are you bringing them into our borders?”
A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
The shadows swarmed Aidan in sporadic movements, while his physical form failed to escape Slania’s grasp. Futilely, the Aidan hung frozen by her grasp, held steadfast, veins bulging from exertion. Forcing the shadows back inside him. Slania’s armor pulsed with her unyielding force.
Brutus was on Slania before the event fully began to unfold, and as her last line of question escaped her mouth, Brutus had a firm grip around her neck and tossed her to the ground.
The vibrance shook the tent, and the two guards from outside emerged from spectral step on either side of Slania. It was enough to knock some of the papers from the desk as well, sending the man behind it scurrying after them. Cursing while he extended himself for each one.
Brutus pressed a knee onto her back, leaving her subdued, in her already captured state. She spat blood with her head turned, in an attempt to face the recovering captain, “You betray your kind.”
Shaking his head in frustration, his tone became extremely aggressive, “I’m not the one on a path to betray my realm.”
Pulling Slania up himself, he stared her down dead on, “I’d take a careful look around you. These men are no mercenaries, and are trained in the same fashion as I, of Telatis, and of your Duharrae. You will not fight your way through this.”
Nodding to the two guards that joined the room, he had them take her in either arm.
With a final word before leaving the tent himself, “If coin is what it takes to stop the Daughters from bringing about a world war, then I’ll gladly take it. There are larger threats at play than that of the Enclave.” A larger threat of war?
On his way out, the captain leaned over to Brutus, “See that he receives both messages.”
Brutus nodded, and both left the tent without another word.
The remaining guards marched Slania, Bonnikyn, and Laresse back the path they had come. No one spoke, the only reprieve from silence was the clanking of metal moving near a grindstone, the clash of distant swords at the barracks, and the soft impact of leather boots on stone as the group walked towards the tent that would hold them prisoner until Captain Aidan was ready to march the Cosantaires out to Basaixe.
Passing the barracks line where Cosantaires practiced their shadow bomb earlier, three men dissembling what was left of the course, it won’t be long before they move out. While hammer mallets struck wood, Laresse quietly shifted about her binds again, dragging her wrist against the clasps.
The tent meant to be their prison, approached quickly. The two guards still stood sentry at the entrance to the cave, gazes forward and stern, spears grasped tightly pressed into the cave’s surface. Laresse watched them intently while being led inside the tent.
Pressed back-to-back against the pillar, the guards took turns restraining the Daughters to the pillar once more. When they were finished, one stayed back to take damp black cloth and tie it around each of their eyes in a blindfold. Laresse sniffed as her vision went dark, reeks of oil. Her eyes blinked rapidly with the sting of the liquid seeping through the cloth, and forced her to keep them shut.
In the darkness surrounding her vision, she listened for the boots. One pair of boots strode around each of them in turn, then finally the steps became more distant, ending with a final whip of the tent flap being pushed open.
For minutes the Daughters sat still, every so often the impact of distant boots came within earshot, only to disappear again. Ok, they’re gone. Laresse whispered, “Did they leave one outside?”
Bonnikyn softly answered, “Two. Not including the two that remain by the cave entrance.”
Laresse winced while she rotated her wrist back and forth, pulling tightly against the clasps. Her arm movement jabbed Bonnikyn, the chain between the clasps clanging softly. Laresse attempted to muffle the sound, pulling herself closer to the chain.
Bonnikyn called in an inquisitive whisper, “What are you doing, Laresse?”
Laresse pulled harder, the warm liquid texture of blood pushed her adrenaline further. She grit her teeth pushing out exhaled breath with each attempt. The rotating of her wrist became slower, but stronger. Duharrae give me strength.
Stifling her own scream, she bit into her cloak and she felt a pop within her wrist that gave her a rush of warmth to the head - that nearly knocked me out.
With her wrist shaking, she unclenched her fist, and slid it out of the clasp. Despite the now easier motion, skin still scraped against the edge of the clasp, no matter at the blood taken at this point.
Rage, adrenaline, something filled her and she found the energy to slowly pull the blindfold from her eyes, tossing it aside. With a sigh of relief, the room is empty.
She dared not glance at the damage done to free her hand, but she felt the pulsing pain start to kick in from the gash she managed to make turning her wrist back and forth. Cloth, need cloth. Crap.
She picked up the makeshift blindfold and wrapped it tightly around her wrist, breathing heavily with each lap of the cloth.
Laresse took in more of her surroundings, Bonnikyn and Slania at this point had been shouting whispers at her. Rather than answer, Laresse removed the blindfold from each in turn.
Slania’s face had dried blood coming from her split lip, but otherwise fine.
Grabbing one of Bonnikyn’s daggers from their pile of belongings, Laresse made for Slania’s binds, only to be halted by Slania, “Wait Laresse.” Pausing with her hands at the clasps, Slania went on, “There is more to be done before we leave here.”
Eyes wide with shock, Laresse struggled to keep her voice down, “What more could we possibly be wanting here? Those men at the barracks were dissembling the outskirts of the structure, it won’t be long before they make to march us to Basaixe.”
Slania cut in, “We must know what they are after here. If they are not aiding the Enclave, we must find out what is bringing the Cosantaires here in such large numbers.”
Bonnikyn added, “They would not send this many just for a bounty on us… The cave.”
Slania nodded, “The cave has been guarded since we got here.”
Laresse interrupted, “What of the Enclave group we’re supposed to be pursuing to begin with?”
As with most timing affairs, Bonnikyn solidified Slania’s position, “We have time. They won’t be past the Glaucous Precipice, not far south from here.”
In an attempt to demonstrate the direness of the situation, Laresse jumped in again, “We won’t have any time if we are sold off at Basaixe, or worse at this point.”
Slania dropped the authoritativeness in her voice, “If we do not reveal their true nature here, this all could be in vain.” Laresse listened. “Whatever is down in that cave is worth the Cosantaires’ efforts of this magnitude. You must go down there and see what they have hidden in the depths of that cave.”
Laresse glanced between them. “Why would you not come with me, I can break these –“
Bonnikyn shook her head, “It will be far easier for them to detect three people in spectral step than one.”
Slania continued, “Whatever means they have for tracking us in the shadows, you must go alone. Now be swift before someone returns.”
With a sigh, Laresse left one of Bonnikyn’s daggers in each of their hands, and strode quietly to the front of the tent. With effort she slowed her breath, need to be quick.
She breathed in the shadows and fell into spectral step, moving through the tent, past the two guards idly standing by. She moved faster, stepping cautiously but with determined precision while she approached the two sentries guarding the cave entrance.
Passing through, one of the guard’s heads moved in tandem with her moving next to him, but Laresse pressed on, just keep moving.
Rounding a corner, she glanced back and neither guard had moved. A quick smirk of relief, and she emerged from spectral step, face to face with an empty, dark narrow passageway.
The passageway lay jagged and narrow, Laresse had to use her hands to embrace the cool touch of the stone to navigate her way downwards. Gently positioning with three points of contact, she navigated to avoid furthering the damage of the left wrist.
After some bends and corners, the corridor opened up to a massive cavern. Gazing upwards, the depths of the ceiling was lost in the darkness.
The ground itself was littered with scarlet leaves, spanning coverage rival to a blanket of snow.
Thin, jagged, blue-grey tree trunks scattered sparse across the cavern, each spanning high veinlike branches, leafless, at the cavern’s dark heights. Laresse lay her free hand across one of the trunks, gazing out into the void. Strangely smooth to the touch.
Light played an ominous role in the scene. With each step she took deeper into the cavern, the light itself stemmed from under the blanket of leaves. Leaving a bright red aura rising from the ground below.
The shadows shifted into odd shapes down here, contorting branches on the ground in unnatural ways, to say the least.
The cavern gave way to a sentry to rival the redwoods that guarded the Bloodwood Forest. At the cavern’s center rose a massive trunk that oversaw all the others in the vicinity. Even the branches sprouted upwards the size of normal trunks.
Gazing up at the great creation, the canopy of bright coral leaves reached far into the void. The canopy was luminescent. Blazing in hues of daylight, the palette absolutely breathtaking.
She leaned over and reached for a white flower in the grass below the base, with tiny little butter-hued sprouts within. She lifted it, tearing it from the scarlet surface of leaves below, the fresh cool scent filling her lungs. Exhaling slowly into the silent void around her, fog erupted from the ground like steam from a kettle. Escaping the tiny crevices between leaves in wispy tendrils.
She glanced down at the flower, and the hand that held it became a blurred wave of light. Steadying her position, she made to move from the field of trees. Finding her feet rooted to the ground, she could not bring herself to move. Nor drop the flower. Frozen in place she made to yell for Slania and Bonnikyn, the air solidified in her gasping mouth, seeping through her like rampant roots.
She felt herself sway back and forth, her will with an unwavering desire to escape, but visually she was still, parallel with the trees that surrounded her.
Off in the distance, Laresse heard rustling of leaves. Something moved… Oh Duharrae no, not like this… A shadowy figure absently walked out from behind the center’s tree. Bathed in the wispy tendrils that continued to rise from the surface below, a man emerged. White, no grey-black thin oily hair that fell straight to his chin, he was heavily cloaked, at least two layers of leather. An odd sensation swept over Laresse. There were no defining features that would have him stick out, no scars, no tattoos. Hard lines defined his face, he kept a gaze void of emotion, or mercy. The mere sight of him made her blood run ice cold. Is this real?
Drawn to the spectacle, she followed his measured movements. If he saw her, he paid her no mind, if he is even truly there at all. From within his cloak, he pulled out a spherical object, a glass orb that shone a beacon through the fog and haze. A fire blazed within, dancing off the edges of its confines.
Lost in the trance the blaze’s movements produced, Laresse watched silently for seemingly minutes, while the man simply gazed into the glass orb.
The tempo of reality began to shift back to a normal pace when the man’s muscles tensed, his grip on the orb tightening. His face contorted to a sneer, he dug his nails through the glass to the point of a loud crack that echoed through the chambers, and he smashed the glass to the ground sending shards shooting out in every direction.
An explosive dust erupted around him in circular fashion, rippling out to where Laresse stood. Around the man, the blaze took form, snakelike movements spiraled around him while the wispy tendrils of fog became fingers of flame.
The scene around Laresse escalated rapidly, the once small flame dancing inside the glass orb, was beginning to grow at a rampant pace… but it is just shadows… this feels more than shadows… the shadow flame of the snake was taking a larger form, a basilisk, a hydra?!
A gust of shadowy flame swept over Laresse, the heat, this is more than shadows. Laresse yelped as the burning wind whipped over her eyes, forcing her to shield her face from the growing waves of heat.
Laresse made an attempt to gaze through the flames, where the man stood - he now stood facing Laresse… fuck. Laresse broke free of herself, forced herself backwards, fell into a sprint back the way she had come. In an eerie aura, her gaze shot all around her, the passing trees, all watching…
Without hesitating, she fell into spectral step, big mistake – the shadows were amplified, lifelike even, the trees moved around her in the shadows. Light played a cryptic role, the bright dead of day failed to compare to the piercing light erupting from the ground.
Exhaling quickly, she made it back towards the ascending staircase of stone that led to the narrow passageway back to the inner cave sections. A final returning glance revealed a rampant storm of flame behind her. The man stood unphased, just watching. Shadows, they are only shadows…
Laresse fought her way upwards, scampering hand over foot, while she climbed her way up and out. The piercing pain of using her left wrist was nulled only by the instinctual necessity to escape.
The light of day came into view, and the entrance of the cave within sight. Where are the guards?
Rounding the corner, the innermost tents came into sight. Laresse stood frozen, trailing the path along the Cosantaire encampment. Wispy tendrils crept from the stone in the same fashion steam escapes from vents. It rolled through the camp thicker than mountainous fogs. The same as it had below.
It grasped at the canvas of the tents, feeding off it, the shadows whipped about in flamelike fashion. The men of Telatis stood frozen, watching the shadowy substance move about them.
One soldier knelt beside the base of a nearby tent and scooped up some of the substance with his open hand. Holding it before his eyes he gazed at the shadowy flame dancing in his palm. Rotating his palm around, watching in disbelief.
Laresse moved slowly, silently, making her way back to where Slania and Bonnikyn were held. Each step taken with precision.
A scream snapped her attention to the source. The man who held the shadows flame, staggered backwards while the palm of his hand began to char. Panic broke out through the camp – Slania and Bonnikyn.
Captain Aidan emerged from a nearby tent and ran up to the guards, now on their knees. He stood shaken, as chaos swept over the camp. In the midst of his sweep of the carnage ensuing his encampment, he caught Laresse in the corner of his eye and snapped his attention towards her.
He made no move towards her, the gaze was not of anger, but that of fear, “What have you done?”
The two stood frozen, broken finally by a thunderous crash and the sound of splitting stone erupting above them. Both the captain and Laresse watched as one of the stone fingers of the cave entrance crackled with deep vibrant thrums, enough to rival the darkest of storms.
The stone came crashing down a few meters from the tent – Bonnikyn, Slania! In tandem with the stone shattering against the cave’s surface, Laresse plunged herself into spectral step, diving through the dust and into the shadows. Past the ear-piercing screams of the guards being burned alive outside the tent.
Laresse emerged inside the tent. Without regard to any Cosantaire that may be inside she forced her way to her sisters, both struggling to free themselves from their binds.
Without a moment to spare Laresse instinctively made for their weapons and belongings. From the corner of her vision, she saw the tendrils of flame reach for the bottoms of the tent on multiple sides, no time to waste. Come on. Laresse heard Slania from behind, “Grab our weapons.”
“Already on it.” Laresse snatched up her rod spun it for momentum and whipped it against the pillar above Slania’s and Bonnikyn’s head. The wood cracked and shattered showering the ducked sisters in splinters and sawdust. The remnants of the beam crashing between them.
One by one Slania and Bonnikyn stood over the shattered pillar pulling themselves free, but still leaving them confined at the wrists, and rendering them useless in their abilities.
Quickly assessing their binds, both sisters had blood at the wrists, they won’t pull through that, even with broken bones.
Slania rose her voice over the roaring chaos, “What in oblivion is happening out there.”
Bonnikyn’s attention was drawn to the growing flame sending smoke under the canvas like a rolling fog.
Ignoring their frantic questioning, Laresse grabbed the rest of their belongings from the table in the corner, and ran over to press Slania’s seeker mask to her face. She ran back to rummage through the table, tossing papers and pouches aside, nothing, dammit.
Outside another crash sent a vibrant shock through the tent, Slania was much more aggressive this time, “Laresse!”
Reluctantly, Laresse left the table, and pulled the flap of the tent open to peer outside. “We have to leave now.”
Without hesitation Slania and Bonnikyn ran outside, bound and all, with Laresse on their tail. The scene that consumed the camp had fully succumbed to the disaster. Tents fully enveloped in flame, the men of Telatis running in all directions, some trying to gather resources, untie coursers from their posts, and in the distance, metal rang. Duharrae what has befallen this place.
Despite her confines, Slania had no trouble pushing forward, she shouted over the noise, “Let’s move.” The three worked their way over the rubble, Slania and Bonnikyn managing to balance themselves with some ease despite the binds offering no balance for aid. Working their way down the side of the camp, towards the torches – that now blaze as pyres angrily roaring at the sky.
Half way through the camp, a large tent bursting with flame, collapsed, blocking the path forward. Immediately Slania turned, bringing the three face to face with two Cosantaires that were running from the opposite direction.
Caught off guard on both sides, the five froze - without waiting to find out, Slania slammed her shoulder into the chest of the nearest one, and Bonnikyn managed to drive her shoulder into the chin of the other.
The two staggered backwards, taking the recoil, but made to charge forward with naked blades. My turn.
Laresse lunged between the Cosantaires and her sisters, diving into spectral step, leaving her phantom form behind in her place.
Her chest heaved from exertion when she emerged from the shadows behind them. With every ounce of effort, she shouted and drove her rod full thrust into the first attacker’s back. Feeling the impact of the man’s spine crack under her force, she pulled back, spinning the rod in her hands and whipped the rod down upon the helm of the other, sending reverberations through her fingers down her arms.
The first gave a cry of pain and fell to the floor, writhing in pain, unable to move from torso down. The other staggered, but managed to keep upright. Turning to swipe at Laresse, Bonnikyn staggered him forward with a kick from behind, sending him towards Laresse. She swept his legs out from under him sending him to the ground as well. Without a second glance at the fallen, they continued their escape, all three panting. The smoke is giving us no favors in this.
Full sprint they ran down the next line of tents, bringing themselves closer and closer to the edge of the encampment. While running a distinct figure drew Laresse’s attention. The horns…
A creature, person, figure of some kind bearing the skull of a ram. Horns dominant in the chaos with demonic display. The figure was slim, womanesque, with long dirt toned hair that fell to her breast line. She was abundantly decorated in golden trinkets, and colored beads that ran through her hair. Her armor resembled leather and bronze, but with a noble fashion, nothing made of this realm.
She stood bathed in flame, with the passing of the next tent the woman’s head turned deliberately towards them. The skull helm she wore was cracked in half, half the skull of a ram, half the aggression of her own face revealed.
With the passing of the next tent she was gone, simultaneously the tent in front of them collapsed, barring the way once more.
Slania banked left, with Bonnikyn and Laresse in tow, bringing them face to face with Captain Aidan not more than ten meters ahead.
Separating the Daughters’ of Duharrae from Captain Aidan lay a wall of flame. He paced methodically, drawing the tip of his blade along the stone, the grinding of steel on stone cutting through the pandemonium that surrounded them.
For a moment, all came to a near standstill. The flow of the flames, the crash of stone, the crackle of wood splintering. The cries of men being burned alive, the desperate scurrying of boots on stone in attempts to flee the scene.
It all danced rhythmically around the Daughters and the Captain, and in the pit of her being, Laresse knew, something was deep in the midst of the encampment, far more powerful than us all.
Finally, the Captain paused mid-step to face the Daughters square on. Be ready, follow him into the shadows.
Unphased by the flame before him, he glared down each Daughter in turn. Not with rage, no something else. A distant cry broke through the moment, drawing the captain’s attention. He did not return his gaze to them again. He breathed deeply.
With a turn of his heel, he steadily walked away, without as much as glance back in their direction. At the turn of the nearest opening, he headed back into the depths of the encampment. What?
Seizing the opportunity, Slania progressed the three Daughters to the outskirts of the encampment. Passing the last line of tents, gravel, stone, and dirt gave way to the line of once torches, now pyres.
The raging fires approached with every step they took. Laresse instinctively made to fall into spectral step – Slania, and Bonnikyn are bound from eneryia! “Slania, you cannot spectral step!”
Slania did not give word of reply, or whether she had even heard Laresse over the roaring flames that now stood before them. Sidestepping one foot over the other, Slania strafed in between the pyres finding a narrow opening that wavered in and out with each breath the flames took.
She nodded to Bonnikyn, and without hesitation, Bonnikyn sprinted through the pyre, lunging her body through and disappearing behind the walls of flame.
A few seconds passed, with no sight of Bonnikyn, Slania turned to Laresse directly, “Spectral step through.”
Laresse shook her head, “I’m not leaving – “
Slania shouted over the blaze, “There is no time, Laresse. Go. Now!”
Laresse took three steps forward, eying the shackles around Slania’s wrists. Damn, you Slania. Standing face to face with the blaze before them, Slania’s words echoed in her ears, “Go, Laresse!”
Taking a deep breath in spite of the pyre’s lust for air, Laresse plunged into the shadows. The raging flames slowed and Laresse saw her opening, and I took it. Laresse moved with haste, this blaze must be ten meters wide.
Carefully maneuvering each step, Laresse wove a path through to the other side. The smoke in her lungs slowly taking its toll.
The exhale came far too quick, the pyre blazed full speed once more and Laresse rolled through to the dirt on the other side. Quickly picking herself up, grasping at her wrist, Laresse moved away from the pyre, coughing nonstop in each step.
Glancing back, there is no line of sight to the other side… Bonnikyn! Laresse scanned the area she emerged from, couldn’t have been too far off… There!
Bonnikyn lay unmoving not far off from where Laresse herself had rolled out. Her cloak was smoking, yet she lays still.
Sliding next to her, Laresse lay herself next to Bonnikyn. Her skin was charred on the cheek, blood crusted along the side of her face. “Wake up, Bonnie, come on – wake up!” A gust of heat swept over her, drawing her attention back to the flames. No time.
Pulling herself up, Laresse dragged Bonnikyn’s body away from the pyres. Losing her footing twice cost her precious energy, by the time she managed a safer distance away from the pyre, Laresse was drenched in sweat, panting from exhaustion.
Lying beside Bonnikyn, she saw the slow rise and fall of Bonnikyn’s chest and lay her own head back, thank you, Duharrae.
A few breaths passed, slowing her heartbeat down slightly, and Slania’s words echoed in her ears, Go. Now!
With every ounce of energy she had left, Laresse stood once more, scanning the pyre where Bonnikyn and herself had emerged, nothing.
Her breath quickened in spite of herself, you’re not leaving us now. Laresse forced her body to move forward, staggering at first, steadily into a desperate run. Scanning the dirt along the wall of pyres, Laresse moved quicker towards the flames, come on, Slania.
Coughing up half her breaths, Laresse attempted to fall into spectral step, the shadows wavered in and out of the physical form, not yet, just a little more.
In the midst of the shadows, she saw a figure move within the flames, Slania! Instinctively, Laresse pushed herself towards the pyre, spectral step or not, I’m coming.
The moment Laresse hit the pyre’s wall, the shadows fell upon her, just deep enough to see. Slania was moving aggressively through the flames, strafing on every open path she could manage.
Through gritted teeth Laresse pushed herself in, disregarding the weaving paths of safety and grabbed Slania by the shoulders. Using Slania’s momentum, and what power the shadows have left for me, Laresse thrusted Slania through the opening and shoved her through the other side.
Both Laresse and Slania crashed into the dirt on the other side of the encampment, coughing up every breath they attempted to take.
Laresse kept on her back, head rested in the dirt, letting her breath catch up with her while the ash rained down upon them both. With evident effort, Slania rolled on her side, “Where’s Bonnie?”
Lifting her hand above her head, Laresse pointed behind them and silently let her hand down again.
Slania’s gaze followed Laresse’s hand movement from Bonnikyn’s location back to the two of them. “Take this contraption off of me.”
Laresse went for the binds before realizing she meant the seeker mask. Carefully, she unhinged the mask from her face, surprisingly cold to the touch. Laresse attached the mask at her hip and inspected Slania, not nearly as burned as Bonnikyn.
After one attempt, Slania managed to stand on her own. Laresse rose with her, and they both turned to face the pyres which had anything but wavered. Slania stepped in the direction of Bonnikyn, “You should not have gone back into the flames.”
Laresse turned to face Slania, but remained silent as they walked side by side. Without taking her attention off the path ahead Slania gave reply, “But it was honorable that you did.”
Nodding, Laresse turned her attention to Bonnikyn who by now was sitting upright. On their approach, Bonnikyn rose.
Slania calmly turned to Laresse once they reached Bonnikyn, “What did you see down there. You must tell us everything that occurred once you left the tent.”
The orange glow off Bonnikyn’s cloak, the burned fringes, was enough of a reminder, but Bonnikyn put it to words, “We cannot stay here, we need to keep moving.”
The three began their ascent towards the cliffs that overlooked the camp. After a few paces in silence, Laresse spoke up, “There was a grove… with a massive tree in the centerfold. To the likes of which I’ve never seen before, absolutely massive. …And the shadows, there was a man that walked amongst the shadows – or the projection of one.”
Bonnikyn paused with a glance to Slania, “So that’s what they were after.”
Laresse turned, “What?”
Slania, “You used a holy site of Moltaeus; The Heart of Rolltan. Those sites are to only be walked by Arbhants.”
Laresse stopped in her tracks, bringing the attention of Slania and Bonnikyn. “I saw something in the flames before we escaped the encampment… I think it was a woman, donning the cracked skull of a ram. Her armor was nothing I’ve ever seen before.”
Bonnikyn nodded. “I had a feeling that was the case.”
Laresse, “What?”
“Laresse, that what you saw in the flames, that, was the work of the Arbhant of Moltaeus. You must tell us everything you saw.”
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