“The .” Jeremiah Delalande on “Dwarven Mine lore.”
“I’m so tired of playing
Playing with this bow and arrow
Gonna give my heart away
Leave it to the other girls to play
For I’ve been a temptress too long
Just…”Give me a Reason
Portishead
“Would you pay life’s pleasures to see me
Does it hurt for I want you to remain
I run your hair through in another decade
Summerland holds me in sumerian hazePain in places where the lovers mourn
Arranging the play things up and down the hallForever remain for every day
Fields of the Nephilim, Last Exit For The Lost
My honour remains
Forever remain.”
“Circumstance eternal, forever more!
For the love of God, it’s a crying shame,
For the love of God.Treasure the moments touched with joy,
But remember the moments tarnished and stained –
For you, sunshine, for you…
It’s a taste of your own medicine –
God’s own medicine for you!
Wake, wake for you
Wake, for you…
Wake, wake for you my precious,
Wake, for you.”The Mission, Wake RSVP
This is another short story for this month’s prompt as I explore the world of Dragon Stone.
Dragon Stone: The Wight Wood
Yish staggered as she rose from setting a snare. Dehydration was becoming acute, and she knew finding potable water was now a priority. The afternoon would soon turn to dusk, and she needed to return to Angelica long before wights roamed. As she tried to stand, she heard water dripping from a crack in the rocks at the base of a small scree slope. It fed a moss-covered stone, from which it dribbled into another crevasse.
Her water skin was dry, and her fingers fumbled to open it wide enough to capture water as it dribbled from the stone. It felt like an age before it was nearly full. Without thinking, she gulped it down and had to begin again. It was then she realised the woods had fallen silent. Not even a whisper in the wind. The sun had dipped, and a half-moon was beginning to rise. Time had slipped. Panic rose as she stumbled back to the trail where she had set traps. Nothing yet had taken the bait. Gasping with stomach cramps from gulping too much water too soon, she started back toward Angelica.
By the time Yish reached the camp, night had fallen. The witch remained where she had left her. The day’s warmth had long since turned away. It was growing cold. They had no real shelter and, of greatest concern, no fire. That was always the domain of Naz. Again, tears threatened. Half a company was as useless as none at all. It felt like an arm was cut off, leaving an invalid trying to survive alone. Even Angelica would be company if she were awake and fit.
Reluctantly, she conjured up a sorcerer’s light. Any hunter worth its salt would detect that almost immediately. Without Naz, it was the only option, given that neither was able to do much until their strength returned. Angelica was more of a concern. She needed water and food. Medicines too. Yish decided to scavenge for herbs and plants at first light when she examined the snares. If they made it through the night, that was.
She settled next to the witch, using her body heat to try to keep her warm. It would be a long night. Despite needing to stay alert, exhaustion claimed her. As it did so, the sorcerer’s light faded, leaving them both in darkness.
###
Naz did as The Malachite asked. With some trepidation, he placed the Wyvern’s Heartstone into the lock, expecting ozone to flood the air and the great Gate to fill with the portal bubble. Instead, all he heard was wind rustling leaves on the trees he could see through the centre of the wheel. To ensure he had made no mistake, he took it out and replaced it. Nothing.
The Malachite came closer, lowering its maw to examine what the fool had done wrong. The Chaos Dragon has sealed it from the other side. Only its Stone can open this Gate.
It sounded vexed. “Can you not ask it to open it?”
If you ever meet this Dragon then perhaps you would like to try.
While, to Naz, The Malachite looked vast, legend had The Black as an immense beast. Guardian of the Bone Yard. An olde lineage that was matched only by very few beasts. One was rumoured to belong to the abomination. “I think not Dragon.” He removed the Heartstone and placed it back alongside the Sapphire Stone. “What now?”
The long path dwarf’s head is skewed toward the horizon beyond the wasteland. If other portals remain intact, it might be possible to locate the Obsidian Tower.
Naz rolled his eyes. More portals. The Guilds of the Keep would have loved that. Not that they were more than rubble buried in ice. In one chronology, at least. “And you know where they are I presume.”
The Malachite lowered its head to the dwarf. Perhaps. But I have not seen these lands in millennia. Much has changed since my kind was slaughtered here.
The words were almost imperceptible. Whatever lore said, these beasts were capable of empathy, to their kind at least. He was concerned that, despite reservations, Dragons could be useful in a tight spot.
Do not think it dwarf. I have no wish to make an enemy of The Sapphire.
That sounded ominous. “Something I should know?”
Nothing you will not discover for yourself fool.
As Naz expected, The Sapphire’s avatar on the staff slung across his back was smirking. “I suspect your new plan requires more aerial exploits, Dragon.”
Not quite the fool dwarf. As before, The Malachite turned so Naz could fumble his way back on.
###
Yish slept long and deep, waking as the early morning sun drifted across her face. She felt groggy and disoriented. Without thinking she looked for Naz and the comfort of a campfire that he would have lit just before sunrise. Her heart sank as reality broke in. She was cold and hungry. Angelica looked peaceful but still slept on. It was possible her fever had broken. Even so, Yish knew she must somehow forage for herbs and check the snares. Refill her water bottle from the crack in the rock, assuming she could find it again.
Rising, she felt stiff. Cold and too long in the same position had taken its toll. She checked the witch before stretching and setting off toward the copse. Nothing stirred, not even birdsong. It made her wary, so she notched an arrow in her bow, just in case. Tracks caught her eye. Something had been nearby as they slept. Not a wight as they left no obvious trail. Then again the woods were quiet. She looked around and touched the Jade Stone. Nothing obvious so she began the trek to the first set of snares.
Only one had triggered, but something else had beaten her to it. All that was left was a drained husk of a carcass. It made her wary. Few creatures that she knew of could desiccate anything like this apart from those whose lives had turned to darkness. Her father was one. With some effort, she found the moss-laden crack. This time she filled her waterskin. Next was scavenging for herbs or flora with medicinal qualities. Yish knew her condition was worsening. Food was becoming essential. Water was no longer the prerequisite, at least not for her. Angelica, on the other hand, required both. Without either, her days would soon be at an end. Again she thought of Naz. How could she continue without him?
Sighing she found enough energy to gather what plants and herbs she could before heading back to the witch. It took what seemed like an age to reach the fallen megalith. Angelica was awake and sitting with her back against the granite. She smiled weakly as Yish approached.
“I would have set a fire, but just sitting up made my insides churn.” She sounded apologetic.
“And I would have returned with food if not for feeling so weak.”
“You miss Naz don’t you.”
“How could you know that?”
“It’s all over your face.”
Tears fell from the elf’s face. Thus far she had tried to hold everything together. Seeing Angelica awake had collapsed the façade. Failing to find food and no fire brought the memory of the dwarf flooding back like a tsunami. She fell to her knees in despair. No longer caring if wights returned as darkness fell.
Sleep soon followed, but not before she had made a brew of the herbs. Confidence in this area at least did not rely on Naz. The hard part had been trying to make a campfire capable of boiling water. Why had they not learned each others skills?
As if reading her mind, Angelica whispered an answer. “Because you never had to.”
Yish turned from the fire to the witch. A weak smile met her eyes. It drew a deep sadness that she never knew existed. Time was running out. Water, they had along with warmth from the campfire. Food was becoming a pressing threat. Instincts said the wights had now reached the forest. If so they needed to move as soon as dawn broke. She set wards and a perception field that, with luck, would hide them during the night.
“I’ll keep watch. You need sleep. Forgive me, but you look exhausted. Food will be plentiful once we leave this cursed place.”
Yish felt overwhelmed. Never had she felt so alone. Somewhere a harpy was stealing her love away. Naz was no longer in this plane of existence. She clutched the Jade Stone, pulled her cloak tighter and closed her eyes. Sleep came quickly yet even then nightmares kept her company. It was all her fault. Both Amanuensis and the dwarf had warned her about the castle. Nevertheless, Naz had still gone with her buying time for Angelica and her to escape. The witch he did not trust. Too many unanswered questions that still needed to be answered. As these things haunted her dreams there was a roar from The Malachite and Dragon’s Breath incinerating her friend.
She awoke covered in sweat. Her stomach growled reminding her food was now urgent. If strength failed before finding any then this would be her last day. She was aware that Angelica was bent over her. Instinct made her reach for her dagger, but a small hand stayed her arm.
“I am not you enemy, Yish.” It was the first time she had used the elf’s name. “Drink this. It’s water with the last of my herbs. For a while, it will boost your metabolism long enough to put this place far behind. With luck we shall find good along the way.”
Yish gave in. It seemed the witch, at least, was out of her fever. That she was hiding her true state was obvious but for once it took away the pressures of taking the lead. On the horizon, day was breaking. Angelica had already broke camp, leaving no evidence of the campfire. Naz would have been impressed if he were here.
She closed her eyes. Time to remember who she was. It had been a long time since the elven art of meditation had come to mind. She used it to still her mind waiting for the witch’s brew to take effect. All the while listening to her heart.
When she opened her eyes the sun was awakening. “Thank you Angelica.”
The witch smiled. Despite her illness it lit up her face, “I know you have questions.” She looked down, “And that the dwarf hated me.”
Yish held up her hand, “Not now. Wait until this evening. First we must top up the water skins and make haste.”
Angelica nodded, “Your wards were strong. I saw no sign of wights.”
“Yet no doubt they will attempt to track us. Not to mention the hunters. I have an uneasy feeling that they have not given up chase.”
“They never do. Failure is punishable by death.”
“Such is the price of fear. Now enough talk, we have work to do while our strength holds out.” Yish assumed Angelica had also taken some form of tonic. A mask to hide how bad she may be feeling inside. Few had the constitutions of dwarves. Most required time to heal, the one commodity that they did not have. It left two outcomes. Live to make a new camp, or die trying.
“You’re doing it again elf. It is what it is. You fetch the water and I will pack what few things we have. On your return, we head west toward the plains.”
In silence, Yish walked back toward the spring. After filling the water skins, she dismantled what traps were left. Apart from the one that triggered the night before. What foul beast took whatever got caught she did not dwell on. These trees had turned bad. Even now they formed a denser canopy and she was certain they had closed in.
What struck her most was the absence of sound. Nothing, no birds or insects. It was like the Cromlech. She paused. Did that mean somewhere nearby was another relic from the Elder Magi? Maybe later she would add it to the map. Some other fool could investigate. If any found their corpses.
BLOGBATTLE prompt word Whisper
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