A moment outside
Night hung thickly over the small clearing that flanked the northern most foothills of the Adershah Mountains. It was a still darkness, a temerarious ink that nothing penetrated, not even the hungry flames of the campfire. Nestled close to the heat, Iris had all the time in the world, it seemed, to analyze her thoughts. She hugged her knees close to her slender body and watched the pieced of forest wood being consumed by fire. In a way she felt similar to the dry pieces of tree limbs and branches. She was caught in a fiery wave of conflicting emotions. Each time she reached a decision, she felt the embers of her old thoughts catch and burst to life. Back and forth she fought off the licking flames of indecision, and fell deeper into confusion. Hers wasn’t a terribly difficult decision, either she use her newfound knowledge to keep her siblings safe, or she use it to gain revenge for Jasper’s death. Although she had eagerly digested all the book in the Great Library, she wasn’t sure what she found there would ultimately help her if she were to fight alone. The Elves were large in number, but the Resistance was not. Only a handful of Elves offered to help her battle those that sought to harm her family, and she was remise to believe that they could make a difference all by themselves. It would take many more to stand up against what was to come, a great number indeed.
The fire hissed angrily and Iris was startled out of her thoughts. Someone was coming. At first she considered slipping back into the shadows and the safety they offered, but she dismissed the idea. Whomever was coming hadn’t made any attempt to hide their approach, and she was close enough to Nettlehelm to call for help if she needed it. The Elves had chosen for the most part to stay neutral, but she was sure they would defend her if she called for their help so close to their city walls. Coming outside the fortifications of the Elven stronghold hadn’t been the wisest decision, she thought, but she needed space to think, and the buildings, though lovely, seemed to press in around her. Now the idea to stay inside seemed much more appealing. The footsteps grew closer, and her body tensed in response.
“Iris!” someone shouted from outside the clearing. It was Brigan. She recognized him immediately as he stepped into the firelight, and her tension evaporated. “Iris, I’ve been looking for you everywhere. Why are you outside the walls?”
Although she had just finished explaining the answers to herself, she chose to keep most of the details to herself. Brigan, she was sure, already knew that she was confused, but her didn’t need to hear her also admit that she was terrified. “Just looking for space,” she responded.
The Elf-man moved pass the fire and settled down next to the young woman. “I have news to share that might help you make up your mind.” He smiled, a kind, understanding expression. Iris liked him, and over the past several days, had learned to trust him. She knew he wanted to help her, and she took faith in this attitude. “What news do you come with?”
“I believe,” he started, then paused. “I know, that we can change the Elder’s mind. I was looking through the oldest books in the Library and I came across a passage about the Coming Darkness.”
Iris waited, assuming that Brigan would continue. When he didn’t she pressed him. “And what of it? I read those passages too. I’m sure it’s nothing that your people do not already know. What did you discover that was so important?”
Brigan reached into his robes and brought out an old leather tome. He quickly opened it and thumbed through the pages until he came to the place he was looking for. “Here,” he pointed to a line. “It says that in Ancient times Nettlehelm was connected to the magic of Nature through a gem called the Mithrandal. It was the one source of power that not even the Darkness could undo. If we can procure the gem, then the Elder would have to side with us in order to protect the city and my people. He knows that the Darkness is coming, he can feel it as well as I do, but he believes that as long as the Elves stay neutral then we won’t have to fight. If we get the Mithrandal....”
Iris held up her hand. “Brigan. I know about the gem. But neither you or I know where it is now. Even if we found it before things got dangerous here, do you really think that alone would sway your leaders?” Iris stiffened, her Secondsight coming alive. Someone else was nearby, listening to them. She put her finger to her lips. “Were you followed?” she whispered. Brigan shook his head.
Again her Secondsight brushed up against the presence outside the clearing. “Someone’s out there,” she said. “And I don’t think they want us to know they are there.”
Suddenly a dark form sprang from the edge of the trees, coming at them with great speed. Iris had just enough time to push Brigan away, before she saw the glint of a steel sword in the firelight.
Posted by Happy Potato @ 11/19/2008 07:46:00 PM