Author's Note:
Not much to say here, but hope you like it! I don't own this franchise.
-Tangent
"What did you say these mountains were called?" Ean said, panting slightly as he pulled himself up over yet another rock.
"Maps just refer to it as Mount Siren." Gavin groaned as he pulled himself over the boulder as well before leaping down to the ground. "Not sure if that's one peak, or the whole range."
"Figures." The elf scoffed. "We're almost there, though." The party had found several trails that led into the mountains surrounding the plains. With no other leads, Ean had decided to look for the tower Violet had mentioned to him.
Initially, they had flown through the peaks looking for such a structure, and they had found it. Unfortunately, Violet had also been correct about the winds that surrounded the mountain, and they had not been able to get any closer. Since then, Ean had spent most of the day crawling up the sides of cliffs, looking for a path on the ground that led to the tower.
And that's why I'm climbing up this hunk of rock.
"Last one." He told Gavin, who let out a sigh of relief as the pair clambered over the last obstacle and rounded the bend.
The view really was gorgeous, he had to admit. Below, he could see a river that raced between the massive stone peaks and off into the distance. Although there was little grass, the elevation and massive scope of the view made it impressive to behold.
"Is that the mountain?" Gavin said from next to him, pointing north. Ean looked up and saw, very faintly, the outline of a tower silhouetted against the sky.
"That's the one." His eyes traced the base of the massive rock, searching for a path. "Do you see a road of any sort?"
"I'm not sure... It's hard to be sure from up here, but I think there's a path on the southwestern side. See where the rocks seem to go in a straight line?" The elf turned to look, using his enhanced eyesight to gaze at the spot the warlock had mentioned.
"I do see it. That definitely looks like a path to me." He slapped the warlock on the back. "Great job, Gavin. Let's get back to the others and start heading that way. Beregond will take us as far as he can, but we'll have to walk."
"You think we'll make it by nightfall?"
"If we hurry, yes. If not, we'll find a spot to camp." Ean glanced over the edge of their outcrop and saw a familiar blue-haired shape far below. The elf waved, and Iya waved back.
"I don't suppose there's a faster way down." Gavin grimaced.
"Not unless you want me to fly and carry you."
"I'll pass, thanks."
It took several minutes to reach the bottom where the rest of the party was waiting patiently. As Ean dropped the last 10 feet and landed with a thud, Iya was almost immediately at his side. Their eyes met, and he smiled slightly.
"Miss me?" The elf laughed as he turned to help Gavin down from the last boulder. Iya poked him in the side with a grin as the others approached. Thanks to Nicholas's healing, the party had not suffered any lasting injuries from their battle with the dragar.
"Well?" Rye asked as he sharpened an arrow with a swift, flicking motion. "Can we get there?"
"I think so." Ean responded. "We saw some sort of path on the south side, but couldn't tell what condition it was in. Still, this is our best shot to get some concrete leads, so I say we take it. What do you think?"
"I think we should." Ava spoke from nearby, her eyes flicking from person to person. Ean noted that they lingered on Gavin for just a moment, and turned slightly to see. The warlock had just brushed his hair out of his eyes and bound it back, giving him a definite boost to his appearance.
Ava and Gavin? What a strange thought.
"Me too." Jack said, and the others added their affirmations.
"Well then, let's get ready to go. It's a couple miles through rocky terrain, so be careful." Ean told them. "I'll take point. Let's move out!"
It was times like these that Ava One-Eye wished she was back on her beloved ship, sailing the ocean. Instead, she was trying to traverse a road that looked and felt as though it had been hit by an earthquake.
It's not like I didn't want to come on this quest, but climbing mountains was not something I expected to undertake. I know I'm not out of shape, but this is brutal. At least we're all struggling, except for those two loons up front.
Her arm muscles ached in sympathy as the ex-pirate pulled herself up yet another piece of what felt like a never-ending staircase of stone. Ahead, she could see the others doing much the same as her. Ean and Iya were having no trouble at all, but that wasn't exactly a fair comparison. After all, having magical enhancements kind of made such exertions trivial. In Jack's case, the thief was demonstrating his infuriating ability to leap much higher than a normal person could, although with a great deal of complaining. Emma and Rye were their usual stoic selves, ever persevering. And Nicholas was doing the best he could, despite the extreme conditions.
So that leaves me and Gavin. For the first time in a while, she felt a twinge of sympathy for the warlock. They'd been getting along well enough, but the red-haired man never seemed to be fully present when she spoke to him. It was though he was distracted by something.
The magic user in question let out a gasp as he came over the ledge she had just cleared, sweat dripping from his hairline. He had shed his usual cloak in favor of just his pants and shirt, revealing his well-muscled arms and torso.
He's not unattractive... It's just that he's a warlock. Ava shook her head in annoyance and strode down the destroyed road. It wasn't the first time her damn thoughts had overstayed their welcome. In front of her, she could see that the others had already reached the top a few flights ahead. Gavin let out another pant of weariness, and her teeth clenched.
He's slowing us down.
"Can you get a move on?" She asked wearily as the warlock came to his feet.
"Sorry." He gasped. "Go on ahead. I'll catch up shortly." Ava stopped short, just as she was about to climb the next piece of the cliff face. He hadn't snapped back at her, something she was sure the warlock would have done in his current state.
Why is he acting like that? And why am I analyzing his every word? He told me to go on ahead! She made to leap up and seize a stone outcrop, but a sound stopped her once more. Gavin had let out a hiss of something more than exhaustion, and it pierced Ava to the core. Making a decision, she turned around to see the magician leaning against a rock with a wince on his face.
She took a step closer, leaving only a few feet.
"What's going on with you, Gavin?" His eyes jerked up to meet her, and an odd desire to look away came over her.
Shut up, brain.
"It's... nothing." The man tried for a reassuring smile, but it came out as more of a grimace. "I'm fine. Honestly."
"You're obviously not fine. Now, tell me why you keep acting like you're not in pain." Gavin made to rise once again, but she took another step and pushed him back against the rock, forcing him to rest.
"So bold..." He muttered. "Is this how you always act?"
"You can't provoke me that easily." She said simply. "Do I need to get Nicholas back down here or not?"
"No!" The warlock exclaimed, his face suddenly alive with frustration. Then he slumped down onto the ground, breathing heavily. "No."
What's happened to him that could have caused this? Ava cast her thoughts back to the past few days, and her eyes widened slightly.
"Is it your leg?" Gavin gaped at her.
"How did you-"
"What else would it be, Gavin? You can barely even stand up." He let out a frustrated moan.
"Fine. It is my leg. Happy?"
"Not particularly. How are you going to get up this mountain we're going to climb? Did you think that maybe your injury would prevent such an action?"
"I'll figure something out!" Gavin flared up at her, and she actually retreated half a step. "Just go, Ava!"
He's telling me to keep going, but... should I? She considered it for a moment. If Gavin wanted to be alone, it would be better to leave. Yet, Ava realized quite abruptly that she did not like the idea of leaving the warlock.
Gods, what is wrong with me? She made her decision, and knelt down on the ground next to the injured man. Taking a deep breath, the pirate forced herself to soften her tone.
"Why are you doing this?" Their gazes met once more, and Gavin frowned.
"This isn't like you, Ava."
"I'm indulging a curiosity, so quit stalling and tell me the reasons. If you were still hurt, why not tell us?" He threw up his hands in frustration.
"Did you ever think I didn't want to slow us down? Every day we spend out here is another day closer to winter. I'll deal with the pain, Ava. I've had worse, and you know it." She saw visions of Gavin lying burnt and bleeding on the floor of a mansion, and a shiver ran down her back.
"You really are dumb sometimes, Gavin. Trust me, they all know how much you can take. They've seen it." Her voice dropped to little louder than a whisper. "I've seen it. It's not weak of you to get hurt."
"You don't understand." The warlock said, his eyes suddenly everywhere but her face. "You're the one I don't want to see me like this." Ava blinked once, twice.
Me? She arrived at a decision and slung her pack off her shoulders. The purple-haired woman rifled through it for a moment before extracting a roll of bandages and other medical supplies.
"Let me see it."
"What?"
"Your leg. Let me see it." Gavin looked at her as though she had grown an extra head, and the warlock smiled slowly.
"So you do have a heart. Looks good on you."
"Shut up, warlock." Ava rolled his pant leg up roughly, trying to ignore her quickening pulse and shallow breaths.
All in all, it didn't seem as bad as she had suspected. There was a little inflammation to the arrow wound, but nothing that wouldn't heal. She applied a salve from the kit Nicholas had made for all of them, and Gavin let out a hiss of pain.
"Sorry."
"No, it's fine." He breathed. She finished treating the injury and wrapped it in clean bandages.
He should be fine. It just looks like it started bleeding again.
"Does this have anything to do with you climbing a mountain earlier today?"
"It didn't hurt, so I thought I'd be fine, but..." Gavin smiled sheepishly, standing and putting some weight on the injured limb. "It opened up around an hour ago."
"You've been walking on that for an hour? Are you insane?"
"Haven't I answered that one already?" She nodded, stepping aside to let him clamber up the next rock face. Gavin did so with relative ease, his arms pulling his body weight upwards with little effort. Ava went to follow, only to find a hand waiting for her.
"Come on, I'll give you a boost." The warlock pulled her up as well, and the pair continued up the ruined highway.
There was just one more step to climb when Gavin stopped, turning to face her.
"Listen, Ava... thanks for that. Sorry for causing you trouble again." Despite her best efforts, Ava felt her cheeks flush slightly.
"Don't make it such a big deal."
"It is a big deal to me." His hand touched her shoulder lightly, but she did not shy away. The grip felt... oddly comforting. "Seriously, I know that we don't see eye to eye, but if you need anything, I'll have your back. I promise."
Ava let out a sigh, trying to keep from showing all the motions she knew were swirling around inside of her.
"Gavin, I..."
Thank you. It was just two words, but they seemed impossible to force out. She opened her mouth again, determined to say it, but-
"Hey! You two okay?" Jack was peering over the ledge above them, his eyes wide. "You get hurt?"
"No, we're good." Gavin told him, moving to take the teenager's hand and clamber up over the edge. "Ava just tripped."
"Really? Didn't expect that. Anyways, the road is so much flatter up ahead, so Ean says we can probably make it before nightfall."
"That's a relief. After all, we definitely wouldn't want anyone to be left behind." Jack took off down the highway as Gavin pulled Ava up, giving her a wink.
"I hate you." She muttered, and elbowed him in the side. The warlock burst out laughing, a sound that sent a sudden pang through her heart.
"Sorry, I couldn't resist. I doubt he believes me anyways."
"Let's just get moving." She said briskly, striding past him and starting down the path.
Thank you, Gavin.
If there was one thing Rye hated more than anything, it was heights. So when Ean came soaring down from the peaks above and landed with a grin on his face, the ranger knew he was in for a treat.
This does not bode well for me.
"So, what happened?" Gavin asked eagerly, bending down the examine the glowing red square engraved into the rock. The party had reached the foot of the mountain and started to climb up the barely visible path, but were soon met with an impassable cliff face. Ean attempted to fly up to the mountaintop, but was pushed back by the winds.
Then Jack had found the strange red carving in the rock. For a few minutes, they had debated the purpose of it, before Ean had decided to step onto the mark. He was promptly lifted into the air by a wind current so strong that it flung him over the cliff and out of side. A moment later, the elf had come flying back down and landed without so much as a scratch,
"It's like an elevator!" He exclaimed. "It lifted me up to the next part of the road!"
"Incredible." The warlock breathed. "That must be how the tower was constructed in the first place..."
"Are we sure it's safe?" Emma asked apprehensively. Rye gulped silently.
I really don't want to get on that thing, but...
"I'm sure." Ean responded firmly. "Iya, do you want to go first?" His mate nodded and stepped onto the mark without a second thought. The wind howled, and she was propelled upwards. Jack followed, and then Ava, Gavin, and Nicholas, each moved towards the sky by some unseen force. Rye glanced at Emma, and she shrugged slightly.
"We'll be right behind you, Ean." The elf nodded and flew skyward. The knight made a motion for Rye to go, and he hesitated.
"I don't know..." Emma blinked, and a flicker of understanding crossed her face.
"Are you scared?"
Well, so much for hiding it...
"Not exactly, just worried that it won't work." The ranger turned to look at the platform again, and he felt a warm hand on his back. His body stiffened in surprise, but Emma was already pushing him along.
"A guy like you, afraid of heights?"
"Not the height. The fall." He muttered, but let the knight move him towards the glowing glyph, nonetheless.
She's way too close... I can feel her breath on my neck.
"I'll let you in on a secret." Emma whispered. "I'm nervous too. So we can go together."
"I... I would like that. Thanks." He smiled at her, and the one he got in return made his heart skip a few beats. Without thinking, his fingers found hers, and Rye drew strength from the quiet warmth they exuded,
"Then let's go!" Emma leapt forward, and he felt his feet leave the earth. He was flying upwards faster than he had ever flown before, but it was not like riding Beregond. The wind whispered around him, holding his feet and legs firmly in place as he and Emma rose into the air. Below, Rye could see the mountains that spread out in every direction, and the view took his breath away.
Then they came up over the edge of the cliff, the wind gently nudging the pair so that they landed on a matching platform. The rest of the party was waiting with looks of visible happiness on their faces.
The rush of air died away, and Rye stepped forward, his hand still intertwined with Emma's. The ranger remembered this fact quite abruptly and let go, moving to look over the edge of the cliff they had just climbed.
"Incredible, isn't it?" Gavin breathed. "Such advanced technology and magic... Why did the dwarves disappear?"
"There's several possibilities." Ean murmured. "But none of them will be proved until we reach the capital." Rye shivered.
We already know... they must have been wiped out by something. No people with this level of technology would have been coerced into leaving their homeland. But he held his tongue, and instead turned to inspect the path in front of them. A narrow path wound between the rocks before disappearing around a corner, and he gestured to it.
"We should move." Ean nodded, and the elf lead them down the winding trail. A few minutes later, they were brought up short by another strange mark, this one glowing blue.
"Another lift?" Gavin bent down to examine the mark as he spoke. "Different symbol and color, though... Maybe it lifts us a different height?"
"Oh, joy." Rye muttered, and he felt Emma poke him in the ribs.
Thankfully, the warlock's hypothesis turned out to be correct, and the group was lifted off the ground, pair by pair, until all of them had gathered at the top once more.
"Wow, we're really high up!" Jack said, peering over the edge. "Were we way down there just a few minutes ago?"
"Indeed." Nicholas added. "This technology would prove very useful on the mainland if it could be replicated. I'll make a note of it." Rye followed the others as they walked down a paved path. Here, the conglomerated stones were much more even and stable, indicating a path that had not been trod by many people.
Or dwarves. Or monsters. Or anything, really.
"I don't see a tower, though." The ranger said, glancing around. "You think we'd be able to... see... it..." He trailed off as the party rounded a bend and came face to face with the oddest structure he had ever seen. The stone base was round, but the shape of the tower curved and twisted as it rose into the sky above. Windows of random shapes and sizes curled around the outer walls, seemingly open to the winds that whipped across the surface of the peak. Pipes of all colors wove in and out of the whole structure, leading up to the pointed roof that was tilted at a slight angle.
"That is the definitely the weirdest thing I've seen so far." Ava deadpanned. "You think anybody's home?" They approached, doing their best to fight the gales blowing back and forth. When the party was halfway there, the door opened smoothly, the two halves swinging out to both sides of the frame. A wizened figure was silhouetted in the doorway, and Iya inhaled sharply as he stepped out into the sunlight.
"Welcome, my unexpected guests." His voice was deep and sonorous, and it reminded Rye of the inhabitants of a certain jewel mine. "I would tell you that I know your reason for visiting, but I must confess that your presence in this land is nothing short of a miracle." The wind seemed to double in intensity, and Rye took a step to the left. "So tell me then: What brings you to my very remote observatory?"
"Observatory?" Gavin asked excitedly, evidently over his shock of seeing someone atop the isolated peak. "What are you studying?"
"Isn't it obvious, my young warlock?" The elderly man chuckled, a gentle sound. "I study the way the winds blow across the island, and how they change it with each passing day."
"Speaking of the wind," Jack said, now fighting to keep his balance as the air blew past them even quicker than before. "Do you think we could come in out of this breeze?"
"Ah, my apologies. I am so used to the air here that I quite forgot about the sunset gales. As the sun sets, the currents grow stronger and stronger. So please, come in." He vanished from view, and Ean turned to glance at the others.
"Shall we?" Rye shrugged and stepped forward.
"I'd rather not spend the night out here if he's telling the truth." The ranger clambered up the steps and followed the mysterious figure into the wind observatory.
When they were all inside, their host made a gesture, and the door sealed itself behind them.
"We are quite safe inside. The machinery will protect us."
As odd as the outside of the tower had been, the interior was much more so. The center of the room was dominated by a massive piece of technology, ten feet tall at least, and it was connected to what appeared to be every pipe in the entire tower. Lights flickered on displays, needles moved, and indicators blinked at random intervals. If Rye was being honest, the whole setup was intimidating, but their host merely danced over to the controls and started flicking switches.
"Have to attune the tower to the night cycle." He said as if the statement was self-evident. Rye decided to ignore that and turned to look around the circular structure. There was lots of books and chairs, as well as a sleeping alcove towards the back, but he surmised that the old man spent most of his time at the controls. Gavin had leapt over to the machine with raw delight in his eyes, and was peppering the strange figure with question after question.
"How does this work? It is Eredar's technology? How did it get here?"
"Easy there, genius." Ava said, yanking the red-haired man back. "How about we get some answers for our current questions before we add some new ones?"
"I agree." Iya said softly. "Could you tell us what we need to know?"
"That depends on the question."
"Then answer this: Who are you?" Ean took a half-step forward. "And where can we find the nymph Nuha?"
"Ah," Their host grimaced, and he suddenly seemed much older and wearier than he had the previous moment. "An intertwined inquiry. But answer I can. Please, have a seat. I will bring refreshments." He gestured a large wooden table near the back of the tower, and the party sat, looking around apprehensively. After a few minutes, he set eight glasses of steaming tea in front of them. Rye thought it was a little bitter, but the warmth of the drink was welcome after the long trip.
"You came up the lift pads, correct?" The man addressed Ean, who nodded. "One of our last accomplishments. They direct the strong air currents around the mountain to lift you up instead of blowing you sideways. Only here, on the mountain with the most wind, do they work."
"And this came from your capital? Eredar?"
"You said 'our'." Rye pointed out. "So you're..."
"A dwarf, yes. Thrain Windchaser, at your service. I am the last dwarf on this land, and I likely will be for the remainder of my life. And now, allow me to guess your identities..." Thrain's eyes flickered from person to person, keenly analyzing their clothes and faces.
"Two elves, but not those of the southern islands... No, I suspect you two are even more of a rarity than my kind. But then that would make you the child of prophecy, and a song mage." His eyes twinkled at Iya, who fidgeted uncomfortably.
"You knew?" She whispered.
"Oh, yes. The wind tells me many things. It is, or was, my only friend on this lonely peak. But such was my duty, even as our city burned." His voice was filled with venom, and Rye felt himself scoot back slightly. "I am no enemy of yours, young Tiki. That prophecy originated from Nuha, after all, and from the Goddess before her. Though I certainly did not expect you now."
"So what happened to Eredar?" Gavin asked simply. "How did your race fall?" Thrain's shoulders slumped, and he bowed his head.
"Monsters fell upon us, monsters of darkness that could not be slain. The city was razed, my brethren scattered, and an unknown fate forced upon Nuha. And yet I did not leave this tower, for I was fearful that I too would perish. How many of my fellows yet live, I could not say."
A tragic tale, to be sure. I can't imagine... Rye shuddered before speaking.
"We met some dwarves in Verashema. They claimed the rest of you were in hiding like they were, at the bottom of a mine."
"I see." Thrain whispered. "Thank you." They sat in silence for a little while before the old man raised his head. "I still have not fully answered your question. And so I will attempt to do so now." He limped over to the control panel of the tower and pressed a few buttons. A dull rumbling shook the building for a moment, then faded.
"When the races of the Land of Man were settling in the places you now see their storied cities, this island, isolated and teeming with wild beasts, was ignored. But the dwarves saw the untapped potential, and the first of my kind built the foundations of our great nation. Eredar grew with every passing generation, and its fame grew beyond anything they could have expected. Even now, it is the stuff of legend, and rightfully so. The technology there was once the best in the world." Thrain flicked a lever on his controls.
"But it was not meant to last. The roots of Eredar run deep below the mountains, and it was from there that monsters began to rise. Many of them were unique, and they could not be killed save through tremendous effort. Eredar came under siege, and when it became clear that we could no longer sustain ourselves, we fled in all directions. I remained here, in the observatory, and no monsters searched for me. I know now, from your information, that they were after Nuha the whole time."
"But why?" Emma asked solemnly. "If I've got it right, she was attacked centuries before her sisters."
"As to that, I cannot be sure." Thrain told her. "But I have a guess. Nuha released one of her prophecies from the Goddess a few months before the mountains were attacked. It was a prophecy about a song mage, and elf, and an undying thirst for evil that will never be slaked." Silence fell across the room.
"...Ean and I?" Iya whispered. "But how?"
"That is only known to the Goddess." The ancient dwarf gave her a reassuring smile. "But despite the enemy's efforts to stifle it, those words came true anyways. Here you are, Iya Tiki, ready at last to combat the forces that threaten to engulf us. Tell me, how fare the other countries?"
Ean gave Thrain a quick summary while Gavin scribbled quickly in a notebook, recording the information they had received. Later, the warlock would no doubt add it to his growing encyclopedia about the current struggle.
"The Snow Queen was never named to us, but it must be her." Thrain frowned. "It would explain the disappearance of my own greatest enemy. For decades, the entity we call the North Wind has plagues these mountains. Many of the instruments in here are for detecting and/or capturing it, but I never managed it. Now, it has gone, no doubt to seek new victims."
"A being of cold winds and ice? Sounds familiar." Ava remarked sarcastically, and Thrain nodded to her.
"Indeed. I suspect the Ice Queen has been directing it for quite a while now. Which brings me to our point of discussion: I will show you the way to Eredar, but you must promise me something in exchange."
"A deal?" Rye echoed, locking eyes with Ean. The elf nodded once. "And what is it you want?"
"If the North Wind has indeed gone to the mainland, I wish you to hunt it down and capture it. This will also benefit your forces immensely, young Okho, if they do not have to fear the storms that will come."
"And how exactly do we do that?" Jack asked, but Thrain waved his hand in an aside.
"We will discuss that later. But will you do it?" Ean turned to look at the rest of them, and a slight smile pulled at his lips.
"Very well, Thrain. You have yourself a deal."
It took several minutes for Ean to explain what his group was seeking on the island, and several more for Thrain to find the necessary charts and books. If he was being honest, the elf was truly impressed by the trove of knowledge within the tower, and by Thrain's ability to find the proper tome or scroll. Gavin had evidently found a kindred spirit, as he was poring over every book he could reach at record speeds, as though he were trying to devour the knowledge within.
"You may be the most passive dark spellcaster I've ever met." Thrain told him conversationally, and the warlock grinned.
"Ah, you're getting my good side today." Ava snorted quietly, and Gavin threw a piece of paper at her without looking. Sensing a war in the making, Ean hurried to intervene as their host unrolled a scroll on the table.
"So this is a map of this range?" The others gathered around as well, looking curious.
"Indeed." Thrain made several marks with a quill. "Eredar is atop this mountain, but as far as I know, there are still enchantments preventing you from simply flying your dragon into the city."
"How did you know about-"
"I know many things, my boy. Now, don't get distracted! Here is the route you must take. It will be dangerous, but I have no doubts as to the capability of your group." The dwarf outlined a route in black ink, blew on it, and handed the rolled-up scroll to Ean, who placed it securely in his pack.
"Nuha's pool was in the center of the city, so I would advise you to start there. Just be careful. I have not laid eyes on the city in decades at the very minimum, so I cannot be sure what you will find."
"We will use caution." Iya promised the dwarf, and he seemed to be reassured.
"And the plans for the weapon?" Rye asked, but Thrain shook his head.
"If it exists, I was never made privy to the specifics. Ideally, Nuha could tell you where to find it, but if she is unable to speak to you, I would search our great library." He retrieved another scroll, this one bearing a map showing the rough layout of the city. "If anything remains, it would be a miracle, but one can hope."
"Thank you, Thrain. Truly." Ean said, shaking his hand.
"Do not thank me yet, my boy. The path to your victory is anything but straight. Use your wits, and you might just stay alive." The dwarf made a few more adjustments to his machine before stepping into his sleeping alcove.
"You may stay here tonight. The winds will die down around dawn, enough for your dragon to land here. You have supplies?"
"We won't trouble you anymore." Ean promised, and the dwarf laughed.
"Trouble? You have no idea, Ean." He vanished into his curtained off section, and the lights in the tower dimmed significantly. The elf busied himself with gathering all the pillows and soft items he could find in the tower and distributing them to the others.
"I'll keep watch." He murmured to Gavin and Rye, who nodded. The warlock did not look up from the book he was avidly studying. Jack curled up on a nearby armchair, and was asleep in no time. Nicholas and Ava followed suit, and Emma and Rye soon after them.
Pretty soon it was just him and Iya, curled up next to each other on one side of the tower. The stones were cool, but not cold, and the air was much warmer than Ean had expected it to be.
"It's kinda nice here." Iya murmured, her eyelids drooping. Ean reached out, gently touching her cheek. "Refreshing, to meet someone who doesn't try to kill us."
Why do I always end up touching her? This cannot look good for me. His mate didn't seem to mind, and so the elf said nothing.
"Feels as though my perception of this world has done nothing but grow and grow ever since I came here." Her voice was softer now, and it sent a thrill through his body. "Makes me realize... how small the Vale is compared to here."
"I know." He whispered back. "It's been how long? Seven months?"
"Feels way longer." Iya seemed to tense up as she said those words, and he turned to look at her. Her grey eyes gleamed dully in the faint light, and he suddenly felt how close she was to him.
"Something wrong?" He murmured, and his mate shook her head.
"Not wrong, just... how would it be, living here?" His eyes widened. Iya had never expressed that there was any other option but return to the Vale. But he owed it to her to be honest, and so he answered.
"I'm assuming you mean after this whole quest is over?" She nodded very slightly. "I think we could be happy here, Iya. We have Candar and Thais, and all our friends..."
"I know that, but I just... I feel as though I'm betraying you by thinking it." Ean separated from her a little bit, but only so he could take her hand.
"I would live anywhere, as long as you were with me, Iya. Whether here or in the Vale, or any other realm we don't know of yet. Whatever you decide, I'm with you."
"But-" He silenced her with a gentle finger.
"If we survive, we can talk about it then. Until that day comes, I'll stay by your side in whatever you do."
"You promise?"
"I promise. Now get some rest." He kissed her forehead, and Iya settled down against him once more.
The wind howled outside, but the elf knew it could not get in, nor could it extinguish the raging flames inside his heart.
Morning arrived, and with it came a gentle calm after the many hours of fierce winds that had battered the tower. The others were feeling refreshed after a quick breakfast, during which Ean had called Beregond to land on the mountain. The dragon came several minutes later, slamming down onto the rocks with a loud crunching noise. As the rest of the party stowed their gear, the elf found himself speaking to Thrain once again.
"I've been meaning to ask: Why'd you never leave the island? Surely you'd rather be somewhere else. You could see the other members of your race again."
"This is all I know, young elf, and all I have known for hundreds of years." Thrain smiled sadly. "I left my friends in the ruins of our city when it fell. Perhaps my race will rise again, but I will not be there to see it. I may have been blessed by the Goddess with long life, but I am not immortal."
It must be painful, living alone like that.
"I'm sorry." Ean said quietly. "And thanks for everything, Thrain. Hopefully we'll see you when this is all over."
"Perhaps you will, should you succeed in capturing the North Wind. If you bring him to me in the bottle I gave your warlock, I can make something that will aid you tremendously."
"We will retrieve it." The elf swore. "So we'll see you then."
His last glimpse of the dwarf was of him watching the dragon soar away, a wistful look upon his ancient face. Then the clouds obscured him, and the tower was gone.
A quarter of an hour passed before Beregond snorted and accelerated into a gentle dive. They landed in what had likely once been a courtyard for some upper-crust manor, as it was paved with smooth stones. This close to the mountains, many of the houses were sprawling ruins, mere echoes of their former glory.
"So, what's on the map he gave you?" Rye asked once they had dismounted. The ranger was organizing his quiver based on arrow type, including several new ones he had picked up in Seri. So far, Ean had seen him fire arrows that inflicted a variety of magical effects, but his most valuable ammunition was still his dwarven-made bolts, which never seemed to dull or break. The elf unrolled one of the scrolls and held it out to the others.
"I looked at these last night. Eredar has defenses that even Beregond couldn't get through, so we'll have to find the entrance the hard way. Thrain pointed us to this mountain, since there's supposed to be a pass leading to the city. It's how they got all the supplies to build out onto the plains." He gestured behind them, where the mountain loomed over their part of the valley.
"Let me guess... infested with monsters?" Nicholas put in, studying the map intently.
"He had no idea." The elf shrugged. "But it's the only quick way in without flying."
"Then I say we do it." Emma added. "We've got our gear and supplies already, so let's get moving!"
"Hate to say it, but I agree with you." Rye said with a faint smile. "I'd prefer not to waste any time."
"Everyone else agree?" Ean asked, and Iya, Ava, and Jack all nodded. "Alright, then let's head for the base of the mountain and see what we can find."
It did not take long for the party to reach their destination, which was a massive stone gate set into the very base of the mountain itself. Despite this, one of the solid stone doors was hanging drunkenly on its hinges, while the other had been shattered into rubble by some unknown force. Runes none of them could read were scrawled across the surface of the wall, inscribed by some craftsman centuries prior. Beyond, Ean could see a road winding between half-collapsed buildings, angling up towards the sky.
The scope of what he was seeing struck him quite abruptly: The gates were over fifty feet tall, dwarfing any other structure he had seen on his quest. Even after Eredar's destruction, they stood tall and defiant against the hordes of monsters that had come from within. Gavin pushed one of the gates experimentally, and it moved with surprising ease.
"Top-rate engineering." He murmured. "Like they were built yesterday." The party clambered over the fallen stones, and quite predictably, were ambushed by monsters on the other side. Harpies swirled around them, bows ready, but Iya threw up a shield that encircled the party, blocking the shots. Rye and Gavin returned fire, and soon the surviving monsters were fleeing out onto the plains.
"Let them go." Ean called. "Maybe they'll convince the ones ahead to get out of our way."
Clearly, he was wrong about that, as the creatures in question seemed to be waiting for his party around every bend in the road. Several times, they had to retreat to a nearby building before the mages of the group could even the odds. Despite the sheer numbers, their foes fell quickly, and soon they had reached another set of gates. These ones opened smoothly, revealing a massive passageway cut into the mountain itself. Runes spiraled around the arch, glowing softly and illuminating the road.
"So we go through here?" Jack asked nervously. "And what if there's more monsters up ahead."
"We can handle it." Ean said calmly. "I know we can. Now, let's move." The elf strode forward confidently into the dark tunnel, and the others followed suit.
It really was incredible, Nicholas mused, that such a race had built all the structure he had seen on the island. These dwarves had evidently thrived, more so even than Thais when it had been at its peak.
For what felt like the dozenth time, the prince felt a pang of shame for the state of his city. It had been in decline for several decades, all while Shaenlir slowly transitioned into the new dominant power of the main continent. When the Snow Queen had shut down all means of leaving the city, including trades, Thais had very nearly collapsed from the sudden strain. It was only through Ella's intervention that he and Uthar had avoided mass panic.
Just one more reason for him to love her, I suppose. As always, sorrow flickered through his thoughts when Uthar was prominent among them. Nicholas was starting to sense that he had caused a lot of grief for his brother, especially when their parents had been frozen by Ishtar. And yet...
I never wanted the responsibilities of the throne. My only wish is to pursue healing magic. This had been true from a young age, when he had rejected a marriage proposal from a noble family that would have benefitted the city. Nicholas had found that he could not bear it, and so he sent the young woman away in tears. Uthar had never really forgiven him for that. But then, his brother was the proper and proud prince every citizen admired. And me? I'm just a healer, and I would like to keep it that way.
The blond-haired man shivered and pulled his cloak about him. The passageways beneath Eredar were cold, damp, and generally inhospitable, if the number of monsters was anything to go by. He had lost count of how many times harpies had leapt from their hiding places, attempting to kill him and the others. Once or twice, massive creatures Iya referred to as trolls had charged them. These took considerably more power to defeat, and soon the prince found himself bandaging wounds after every skirmish.
"You good?" Ean asked him quietly after yet another battle. "You've been using your power a lot since we started climbing."
"I'm... good." Nicholas panted. "Not... built for this." The elf clapped him on the shoulder and moved down the line, checking on each member of the party.
Ean Okho was certainly a mystery to him. He was from some small village in the middle of nowhere, and yet kings and queens deferred to him. He was plain and unassuming, and yet could unleash more violence than any creature Nicholas had ever met. Stranger still, the elf had never addressed him by his title or treated him differently. Truth be told, he was starting to think that Ean viewed his name as a higher form of respect than any rank or title.
So different from those nobles in Thais who can't see beyond their own stations... The free kingdoms hail him and Iya as heroes, but they never once took advantage of it. Can such selfless people really exist? The party started moving again, and Nicholas trudged forward unthinkingly.
Why does this bother me so much? I never wanted my title in the first place. Slowly but surely, Nicholas felt himself piecing things together.
It's because... They have no status, no power, and yet... they earned every bit of respect they receive. His eyes found Ean again, who was walking at the front of the group, claws ready to respond to any threat that might appear. I'd follow either of them anywhere, and I'm sure the others feel the same.
"Down!" The elf barked, and a harpy exploded from the shadows. At the same time, Iya spun and blasted the monster to pieces with a fiery explosion. It disintegrated a heartbeat later, and Jack let out a shaky laugh.
"Good thing you two are up front." Ean gave his mate a slight smile, and they continued onward. The air felt lighter now, and Nicholas guessed they were close to some sort of exit.
I guess what really concerns me is myself... What have I earned? He had healing powers, and tremendous ones at that, but what kind of respect did a prince like himself command? The people tolerated him, the nobles despised him, and his brother thought he was childish and immature. Again, he felt the familiar burn of anger, but Nicholas tamped it down firmly.
I'm not that man anymore. I've changed, somehow. It took me a while to realize it, but I think I'm... growing. Is that a good thing? He bumped into Iya, who had halted in front of him.
"Sorry." He muttered, glancing up. "Why'd we stop?"
"There's light ahead of us. Ean went to check it out." Her voice was quiet, but he could hear the nervousness in her tone. The elf was evidently worried about her mate.
"He'll be fine. Ean knows what he's doing." Iya gave him a small, yet grateful smile.
"How did you know?"
"I'm a healer. I'm good at reading injuries of the body and mind." The prince hesitated. "Can I... ask you something?" She looked at him curiously, eyebrows raised.
"Of course, Nic. What is it?" Of course, it was at that moment that Ean decided to return, announcing that the way ahead was clear for the time being. Nicholas fell into step behind the elf, and Iya walked next to him, keeping her voice quiet. "Are you hurt?"
"I... No, nothing like that." He stopped again, before making the decision that would turn out to be the most important one of his life. "But I just realized I should ask everyone this question."
"Oh? Now I'm curious." Ean did not turn around, but Nicholas swore he saw the ghost of a smile on the elf's face.
Of course. Forgot how sharp his senses are. The prince had a sneaking suspicion Ean had been listening the whole time, but chose not to interrupt. I can respect that.
The party rounded a corner, and light flooded into their faces for the first time in hours. Predictably, Jack staggered around wailing about his blindness while the others rolled their light-deprived eyes. Nicholas felt his eyes burn slightly, but his magic counteracted the effect, and he was soon able to see normally again.
"Where are we?" Gavin grimaced, still squinting at the rocks around them. "I don't see a city."
"According to the map, the rest of the road spirals up the mountain until it reaches the city." Ean told him.
"I'm just glad to be back in the sunlight." Emma said, spinning in a slow circle like a turkey on a spit.
"Is it lunchtime?" Jack popped up next to Nicholas, who started. "I'm starved!"
"We can eat here." Ean responded, gazing up at the sky. "Probably more monsters ahead of us anyways."
"I agree." Nicholas said into the following silence. Everyone looked at him, and he cringed internally. "I-I mean, yeah... I'm hungry as well."
Real smooth, prince... No wonder the ladies throw themselves at you.
They found a set of suitably flat rocks and sat down. Nicholas dug into his pack and extracted some smoked meat, which combined nicely with Rye's loaf of bread to make sandwiches. Unfortunately, there was no time for him to brew a hot drink, and so the prince had water instead.
At a certain point, he glanced up to see Iya watching him expectantly. The elf winked at him, and he felt the support flowing silently from her to him. Ean also tossed him a smile, no doubt aware of what was about to happen.
The prince cleared his throat, and Rye glanced up.
"Something stuck in your throat? I've got water if you need it."
"No, that's alright. I... I would like to ask something of the rest of you." The words came out easily enough, something that infused a little more courage in the prince. Ava studied him intently, face unreadable. Jack looked nervous, while Rye and Emma seemed merely interested. Gavin's eyes flicked to the prince, but he said nothing. "It's about when we... when I first met the rest of you."
"Ava dragged you out of the castle." Rye said with a faint grin. "I remember." Nicholas frowned. That had not been one of his finest moments.
"Yes, well... I've been thinking about how I acted back then, and so I was wondering... was I a bit full of myself?"
Silence reigned for a full five seconds.
Then Ava burst into laughter so hard she toppled off her rock, clutching at her sides. Rye and Emma were laughing as well, while Ean and Jack merely grinned. Even Iya giggled. Only Gavin's mouth remained studiously turned downwards, as though it was taking a monumental effort to keep it there.
"You... you... oh, Goddess!" Ava cackled, still rolling around on the rocky road. "You did not just ask that!"
"Yeah, I did!" Nicholas shot back, his temper rising. "So answer the question!"
"Oh, Nicholas, my sweet child... You really are oblivious." The pirate mimed wiping a tear, and Jack chuckled. He looked around at each smiling person sitting opposite him, and Nicholas felt a sense of shame envelop him.
Was I really that bad?
"I'm sure Ava isn't trying to be rude..." Iya said gently. "But the truth is, Nicholas, when we first met you, you were... how do I say it?"
"Pompous." Rye put in.
"Arrogant."
"Prejudiced."
"A complete idiot who cared only about himself." Ava finished, still laughing to herself. The prince's heart sank. So that's how it was then... they really hated him. "But now... You're not so bad."
What?
Nicholas raised his gaze to meet hers, and Ava's smile no longer seemed mocking. It was smaller and more genuine, and the anger he had been feeling seemed to fade away into the back of his mind.
"I said you were that way... but I think you've grown a lot these past few months. Granted, there's still a long way to go, but..." She shrugged. "Progress is progress."
"And how do the rest of you feel?" Nicholas asked cautiously. Ean grinned at him.
"Asking how others feel about you, Nic? You never cared before."
"Yeah, well..." The prince flushed and turned away, gazing up the side of the mountain. "Never mind, then." This prompted another round of laughs, and Rye slapped him on the back. Nicholas assumed this was supposed to be reassuring, but he wasn't totally sure.
As they prepared to continue up the road, Iya caught his eye and winked at him. Her words came to him, clear as day even though her lips did not move:
None of us hate you, Nicholas.
For the first time in a while, the prince's lips curved up into a genuine smile. Nicholas nodded to the elf, slung his pack onto his shoulders, and followed the others up the winding path and out of sight.
I feel... relieved. How strange.
Wind whipped across his sleek, feathered body before streaming out over his wings to create a disturbance in the air. Ean spun, and his other form responded with a sharp banking turn. His initial pass had scattered the half dozen or so harpies that had leapt down upon the party from higher up the fountain. The transfigured elf made for a second pass, only to see that Rye had scaled a nearby rock and was picking off the survivors with lethal accuracy. Any that lived through the barrage were slain by Jack, who was guarding the ranger's back.
He let out a soft caw and swooped back down to join the others. With a flash of red light, Ean found himself in his normal body once again, wincing at the sudden jolt of pain.
I've been shifting too much, too often. No doubt my body is struggling to handle the strain of being forced into six different shapes.
"Nice shooting." The elf called to Rye, who merely nodded and clambered down from his perch, moving to retrieve his arrows.
"How many have we killed now?" Jack asked quietly. "It feels like the monsters never stop."
"Don't think about that too much." Ean advised him. "They chose to attack us instead of fleeing. Besides, I doubt they're too innocent considering all the dwarves they slaughtered." The teenager nodded slowly before darting back down the path to check on the others.
Several hours had passed since they had left the tunnels of the mountain, and yet he could not see the top. The sun was already sinking towards the horizon, and the elf knew instinctively that traveling the mountain after dark would be exponentially more dangerous.
When the others joined him, he briefed them on his thoughts, including their need to move quicker. They fell into a sort of staggered formation, with Iya and Jack in the front, Emma and Rye in the middle, and Gavin, Nicholas, and Ava bringing up the rear. He would remain in his griffin form and scout ahead while the party tried to move as fast as they could.
Not a perfect strategy, but it's the only one I can think of. As the elf shifted into a griffin once again and took flight, he felt a presence slide into the forefront of his mind.
"Mister Ean?"
"Hello, Violet. Are you feeling well today?" At this point, he felt experienced enough that he could sense everything happening inside and outside his body.
"I'm okay. Dad has been helping me keep my power under control. And Miss Cigne likes to tell me stories."
"That's good." Ean responded, his eyes flicking back and forth across the rocks below. Another harpy came into view, and he fell upon it ruthlessly, slashing it to dust. "Have the others been good to you as well?"
"Mister Erik has a scary body, but he's nice. I don't know too much about Amari or Edward."
"That's okay." He said comfortingly. "They're still getting used to you too, okay?"
"I know... Oh, I remembered something! It was something about a big city."
"Eredar?" Her words had piqued his curiosity.
"Hmm... Maybe. But I remember a nice elf lady who looks like Miss Iya, but smaller. She lived in a fountain near the middle of the city. But... I don't remember anything else. Sorry."
"That's alright, Violet. You've been very helpful. Thank you." A giggle sounded through his mind, a pure and delightful sound.
"Thank you, Mister Ean. I'll come back soon, okay?" The girl's presence faded away, and Violet was gone once more. He was about to sever the connection when another mind connected with his.
"She told you about the fountain?" Amari asked, and he nodded. "I thought as much. Listen, after you freed Violet, the rest of us started remembering things that didn't have anything to do with our lives. I saw Thais as it used to be many years ago, and Edward saw some icy forest."
The elf frowned.
"How strange. Memories that aren't yours? How could that be?"
"I'm not sure, but it would be wise to take them with a grain of salt. That's all I wanted to say."
"I'll think on it, Amari. Thank you."
Ean rejoined the real world just as his considerable mass landed squarely upon an unsuspecting monster, flattening it into a pancake. He was higher up the mountain now, and the elf realized with a start that he could see a large structure built into the cliffs ahead.
Those are gates! We're close, then. The griffins shot into a dive, and a few moments later, Ean was back on the ground with the others.
"I saw the entrance to the city up ahead. It's another half-mile, maybe."
"Any monsters?" Ava inquired, hands fidgeting on the hilt of her sword.
"None that I saw." Jack twitched uncomfortably at that statement. "Something wrong?"
"This doesn't feel right. Why wouldn't there be monsters in the city?"
"Thrain told us there was a barrier in the sky above the mountains." Gavin pointed out. "Could it have extended to the walls too?"
"We'll find out soon enough." Iya remarked.
A few minutes later, the party rounded the final bend of the mountainous road. The sky was grey with the approaching night, making visibility poor. But all of them could see clearly enough to notice the monsters waiting for them.
It was not a group, or a swarm. No, it was a veritable horde of monsters that surrounded the gleaming gates of Eredar. Harpies shot through the sky in packs of twelve, screeching and fingering arrows menacingly. Below, a vast array of creatures moved in every direction. Wolves, fairy toads, ogres... it seemed to Ean that nearly every foe they had fought thus far was represented in some way before them. Behind them, the walls of the city that had been searching for stood proudly, even in their poor condition. Only the gates were still perfectly preserved, carved from white marble. And a few feet in front of that, the elf could barely make out a shimmering curtain of air. Any monster that touched it was immediately repulsed and sent flying several yards away.
Behind him, Rye choked on his breath.
"That is... a lot of monsters. Almost five hundred." Next to him, Emma flicked her sword out of its sheath. Her shield followed suit, accompanied by the swordmaster's band on her upper arm. Gavin twirled his staff, and the air crackled slightly.
"Maybe they haven't seen us." Nicholas offered. "We can just-" An ogre let out a rumbling roar, and the small army of denizens immediately charged towards their positions.
Ean felt his vision tunnel, until there was nothing but the song surging in his blood.
Four hundred yards away.
"Ean, what do we do?" His lips curved into a vicious smile, and the elf let out a laugh.
"What else? We fight!" The others let out a roar of approval, and the sound shook the air for a heartbeat. "Our enemy must be desperate, throwing her forces at us like this. But we will prevail! We must! Nuha is waiting for us!"
Iya shot him a brilliant smile as she summoned her chaos song into her hand.
"I'll take the ones in the sky. Rye, care to help?"
Three hundred yards.
"Sure, but I don't have enough arrows." The ranger's eyes flicked over his bow one last time, checking for faults.
"Just keep them off me. I'll do the rest."
"And the rest of you are with me." Ean growled. "Let's show them why we were sent on this quest. The Goddess herself favors us, and we will not fail!"
Two hundred yards.
The elf lowered himself into a stance, and felt the seven spirits pulse their approval and longing for battle. Emma and Jack took up positions on either side of him, while Ava led the other wedge of Gavin and Nicholas. All of them were holding their weapons at the ready, and all of them had an intense gleam in their eyes. Behind him, the air began to vibrate and hum, and he knew Iya was stirring up a storm of unmatched proportions.
One hundred yards.
His knees bent, and Ean breathed out slowly, counting each heartbeat as it passed. He was aware of nothing but his comrades and the enemies bearing down upon them. His eyes could see each individual weapon and foe.
I know how to kill all of them. All that's left is the execution.
For a brief moment, time slowed to a crawl.
"Attack!" Ean bellowed, and his friends answered him with incoherent roars. He charged, just as the first rank of monsters fell upon them, blades and teeth gleaming, and Emma, Ava, Gavin, Nicholas, and Jack followed suit.
He could not be sure what happened next, nor the order in which it occurred. It was as if the battle was composed of brief snapshots, each taken at a different point in time. Dozens fell by his hand alone, but he was not confined to his elfish body. Ean took the shape of a werebear, a dragar, a cyclops, each transformation proving more deadly than the last. Bone crunched, blood sprayed, but the elf gave no quarter as he tore into the enemy with a ferocity he had never displayed before. In the back of his mind, he was dimly aware that his bodies were glowing with crimson light.
And yet, he was not the only one in the thick of the fighting. Every so often, a monster fell with a knife in its chest or head, and Ean knew Jack was near, guarding his back. To his right, Emma was little more than a blur of silver, her sword never ceasing its deadly dance. Where she stepped, enemies died.
And still, there was more he could see. Ava and Gavin were tearing through the left flank of the horde, an amalgamation of lightning and steel intertwined to the point that Ean could not separate them. Arrows flew from the sky, but they were deflected by some unseen force. He heard Nicholas cry out, and the various cuts he had received sealed themselves almost as quickly as he received them. Overhead, tornados of ice and fire ravaged the harpies while winds pummeled them into the ground. When a harpy moved too close to the center of the raging maelstrom, arrows pierced them with deadly accuracy.
It happened suddenly, between heartbeats. One moment the army of creatures bore down upon him, roaring for blood. And then, they began to fall back, slaughtered by the invincible attackers and their overwhelming thirst for battle.
Ean lunged, claws swinging down to disembowel another foe, but the blades met only air.
What? He came upright, chest heaving, senses increased all the way to their maximum, but no attacks came. He spun on his heel, sure that there must still be monsters to slay, but only silence greeted him. Overhead, the magical storm rumbled and faded away, letting a light darkness settle over the plateau.
It was only then that Ean realized what had occurred.
We killed them all. Where hundreds of monsters had been baying for their blood, there was only a stony field covered with blood and dissolving corpses. Nearby, Emma was helping to extricate Jack from under the body of an ogre. The teenager had apparently stabbed the creature, which had then fallen on top of him, if the knife marks were anything to go by.
Focus, Ean. Breathe. Check on the others. Nicholas was already healing Gavin and Ava, a weary expression on his face.
"Ean." Iya's gentle voice reached his ears, and the elf turned to receive a mass of blue hair into his chest. "You're okay." He wrapped his arms around her, neither of them caring about their torn and stained clothes.
"Yeah. You are too?"
"I was far away, all things considered. But you..." The elven woman in his arms shuddered with relief. "You were so strong, so fast... I've never seen anything like it. All of you were like that."
Slowly, in ones and twos, the rest of the party gathered around the elves.
"Did we really just do that?" Jack laughed breathily, bumping Rye's outstretched fist with his own. "You guys are insane. I'm insane."
"Join the club." Gavin said wearily. "What about the city?" They turned to face the gates, still protected by a transparent force field. Iya stepped forward, hand outstretched, but met a wall of air.
"It didn't push you back." Ean noted. "Maybe if I touch it?"
He laid his own palm on the invisible wall. Instinctively, the elf spoke:
"We are here to rescue Nuha, the nymph of wisdom. We mean no harm."
An odd sensation swept over his body, but he did not move. It passed a moment later, and the air dissipated with a pop.
"Is it gone?" Nicholas asked, taking a hesitant step forward.
"I think it accepted me, since I'm the leader of the group."
"A mechanism for automatically logging entries to the city?" Gavin murmured, pulling out a scroll from his pack and scribbling hastily in it. "But what's the source? And how does it still operate all these years later?"
"Gate's unlocked." Rye reported as he pushed experimentally on the marble façade.
"Shall we?" Ean asked Iya as he took her hand. "Nuha is waiting for us." His mate closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them, a new determination gleaming in the grey orbs.
"Let's go."
Rye pushed, the doors opened soundlessly, and the elves walked forward into the silent city.