ShaeEldera

 With a groan, Seri rubbed her aching head. Her eyes slowly flickered open, but were met with only darkness. It took a moment, but she soon noticed a wavering shaft of light spilling in through a small opening somewhere above. She laid for a long while on the cold stone floor, letting her eyes adjust to the faint light and trying to remember where she was. Though her head went spinning as she gingerly pushed herself off the ground, she quickly thrust the feeling aside. Even in the dim light Seri could still make out the familiar outlines of her companions who seemed to be faring no better than she was. With a gasp, she dragged herself acros

*     *     * In the depths of the night, they came. The Shadows. Not mere ghosts of living counterparts, they lived and breathed and wrought chaos. None foresaw their horrible coming. Asleep peacefully in their beds, villagers dreamed the dreams that they always did. Yet all the peacefulness in the world was easily shattered by a single wavering cry. Soon the ghastly creatures would be upon them in waves. Soon rivers of blood would run through the streets from mangled bodies no longer recognizable as human. And just as they came, the Shadows would depart. But not this time. Three figures perched upon the roof of a barn, high above the

Chapter 9 Tryste pushed himself from the hard, uneven ground and gazed around in confusion. A blue sky stretched above, and a dirt road ahead. Grassy hills rolled on into the horizon where they jutted up into the atmosphere forming a long mountain chain. "I… I miscalculated?" As soon as the words left his mouth a searing pain shot between his eyes and ran through his head. He felt weak and nauseous, but he still forced himself to a sitting position. "I couldn't have." Still, all signs told him that the town of Ranai was nowhere nearby. "I was unaware," came a muffled voice from behind, "that mages customarily escorted those they tr

 Melodious chimes filled the warm afternoon air. Tryst craned his head toward the sound. The bells hanging within the high church tower that broke the city of Myrrah's skyline tolled twice, marking the hour. It was late, yet Tryst still sat upon a stone bench in the park under the shade of a great tree. He covered his face with a hand, listening to the gentle rush of the fountain in front of him. Manipulating the ward placed around the school for the arcane was simple, no one was alerted to Tryst's departure, and no one would bother looking for him on a holiday. It was after that step where his plan began to crumble. He needed to get away,

*     *     * A whirlwind of ivory mist swirled around an insubstantial figure. Upon closer examination, it seemed no more than a mere shadow undulated within the rushing column of fog. Despite its initial innocent appearance, the shadow began viciously lashing out against the haze surrounding it like a bloodthirsty beast against a cage. And, like the sturdy bars of a cage, the mist buckled and bent slightly, but held strong. Faces started to appear in the fog, some familiar, some new, but all with gaping mouths open in silent screams and dark, empty eyes staring blankly. Discordant voices began calling out in pained, ethereal whispers tha

Chapter 8 The windowpane was cool and comforting as Tryst pressed his cheek up against it. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see the tiny rivulets of water snaking their way down the glass, yet he hardly took notice. His yellow eyes were unfocused. His mind drifted elsewhere. "Is there something troubling you, Tryst?" questioned an older woman with graying hair pulled back in a thick braid, the only other person in the room. Tryst looked up at her, almost startled by her presence though it was she who invited him in the first place. The woman regarded him with a worry-wrinkled brow as she set her chin on top of her folded hands. "You

 "Couldn't we 'ave stayed somewhere dry?" asked one of the men sitting around the washed out remains of the fire pit. While he grumbled to himself, he absent-mindedly poked at the charred remains of the fire pit with the slightly rusted point of a long sword as if it could spark the wet coals to life. Like the three others around the pit, he was soaked to the skin and miserable. "Right," responded an older man with long, salt and pepper hair tied tightly at the nape of his neck. The annoyance in his voice clearly indicated that the conversation had taken place at least once before, and the way the others quieted when he spoke showed high reg

Chapter 7 The sounds of music and laughter drifted through the air outside the Ivy Leaf Tavern and Inn. The ivy crawling over the stone building's façade, from which the establishment rightly took its name, seemed to be dancing in the heavy rain. The large windows were opaque with fog, yet the weather did nothing to deter those inside. People who normally walked the streets during the day found themselves cooped up in the cozy building, having a few drinks and conversing animatedly with anyone who would listen. The dark sky and torrential downpour outside did nothing to dampen the mood as a large fire burned brightly in the hearth. In

Hours passed along with uncounted miles in near silence. The moons soon sunk below the horizon as Kaeru's horse slowed to a halt. As Mai cantered up, she noticed Kaeru slumped forward in his saddle, barely able to hold on. She watched carelessly as his hands slipped from the reins and he awkwardly fell from the back of his startled mount to land with a dull thud upon the hard earth. Shifting back into her human shape and setting Seri down, she approached, but only to calm the frightened animal. After a few reassuring whispers, Mai removed the horses saddle and urged it to go. Curiously it trotted off a few paces and stood, watching the thre

 It was like a misty dream. Screams and shouts rang out and he was not sure if they were real. Hours must have passed since he lost himself in thought. The fireplace held only smoldering coals. Kaeru shook his head and gazed down at the cup he still clutched in his hands. The inky liquid's surface rippled as the ground shook. Heavy pounding erupted from the doorway, jarring both Mai and Seri from sleep. In moments, the wood splintered and burst into the room. A dark, shadowy beast howled in the doorway. It had found new prey. Alert, Kaeru dropped his mug to the ground and drew a long knife from somewhere in the folds of his cloak. Before