Below waits death

Aurelia

The limbs of the trees were bent and broken from the weight of the dead bodies. Some were supported by rope where others were nailed to the wood. We walked through them all. I looked at every face that we passed. Young women, old men, children. They had shown no mercy.

The deeper we went, the worse it got. The bodies started to increase. One tree was so thick with them, that I thought that there was no tree at the center. I needed to get out of here. The smell of burnt land and dead flesh was starting to get to me.

The horses to were starting to get agitated. Scorch had her nostrils flared and would kick out her back legs every now and then. Star and Blackfire were showing signs as well. Only Galorian’s nameless horse seemed to walk without care of its surroundings and the rate of their decay told me there were among the first to be placed here.

“We can’t leave them here. They will have to come to the city with us. We'll figure it out there.” I said to my group walking slowly behind me.

It took what felt like years to get through the dead. the air certainly got worse before it got better. By the time we reached the end of the dead wood, we all had tied a slip of fabric around our faces. When the air was only filled with the smell of burnt dirt, I took a deep, somewhat refreshing breath.

“When this is done, I will come back and burn these poor dead and free their souls.” I said to no one.

“When this is done, I don’t want to see battle again for a long time.” Saira said as she came to stand next to me. “Did you notice that some of them were warlock? Maybe they opposed my brother?”

“Possibly. When I met him, in the dream, I got the feeling he didn’t put up with non-supporters.” Plus, he had tried to have you killed multiple times, I said to myself.

The city could be seen in the distance. Just the outline of the tallest building could be seen from here. As I looked ahead, I could see nothing to offer us cover or protection. All the trees had been cut down and the nearest mountain side still had a large enough distance to be spotted from. The city would be hard to breech.

“I don’t think we will be able to fly in like last time. After that, your brother will have better guards on the walls and within the castle.”

“Saira,” Kairios asked. “What other way is there into the city?”

“I don’t know, I wasn’t allowed to walk the city walls or know of its defenses.” She admitted with a tinge of shame.

“Let's get closer and get a better look. There's nothing we can do at this distance. I say we go to that rock pile, leave the horses there and look on while we are closer.” Galorian’s suggestion made the most sense.

“We go slow, leave no trail.”

The ground was soft and dusty. Each step we took left a trail. Kairios walked over to one of the trees that had a small branch sticking out, He ripped it from the tree and held it for a moment. After a second or two of concentration, the leaves started to grow longer and thicker. “This will help sweep the prints away.” He said and started his large sweeping motions.

“We go in a straight line. I will go first.”

I walked ahead of Scorch and the others fell in line behind us. I could hear Kairios swishing the branch back and forth across the ground. I kept my eyes on the city. As it grew before us, I looked for the gates to open and an army surge at us, I watched for boulders to be flung from the mountain and over the walls.

Every bad scenario I could think of, I watched for. My heart pounded in my ears and raced in my chest. The closer we got the more I was worried about Zephyrus, could he sense me, or Saira? Any moment he would send the city after us! Step after step I started to grow in my fear.

One, two, three. I counted my steps and only thought of them. One hundred, one hundred and one. Closer and closer we grew to the city. Three hundred sixty-seven. The walls of the city grew taller and taller. “Aurelia. We stop here.” Galorian whispered from his spot in the line.

I paid attention to the rocks surrounding us. This was the best place to stop, to leave our horses. If we had to leave the city in a hurry, they would be close enough. This spot was well hidden by a rock slide that looked new and like a jagged razor facing the sky. The ground was ash giving no food for them. They would not be able to stay here long.

“Lay out the food and pour all your water into the buckets. We go in light, only weapons.” I ordered.

We all took a moment to discard all the things that we would not need. I pulled my bow and quiver from the saddle on Scorch’s back. Then pulled the string from the top and rolled it tight on the bottom. Unstrung like this I was able to fit it into my quiver, which was now strapped to my back. My sword was nestled between it and my spine.

It was a lot of weight but the best way to take what I needed. The belt on my hips had a knife on each side. I pulled the one to check it, it was clean and flawless. The blade made a satisfying hiss as I returned it. The other showed the same results. I had everything that I would need. I turned my attention now to laying out food and water. There would be enough for a day, maybe two.

“Promise me that you will leave if I do not return when this runs out. Go home, find the children. Miranda will take care of you.” She met my eyes and stayed unmoving. “I couldn’t have asked for a better friend through all of this. Thank you.” I said as I grabbed her chin and pulled her face into my chest. “I love you.”

Tears poured from my eyes at the little goodbye. I turned to see that Galorian was at my back. He said nothing but raised a hand to my cheek and whipped the stream of tears with his thumb. I leaned into his hand finding comfort in the small touch.

“If we survive this, take me away, for a small time. I need peace, quiet and freedom.”

“I will. I know a place. It can only be accessed by air. Abandoned for years unknown.” Only he would know of such a place.

I stepped into him and wrapped my arms around him. He was covered in weapons. The only one of us who was human. “You are mine, do not forget it.” I whispered into his chest.

Kairios and Saira walked over to us. I looked at each of them and felt overcome. I released myself from Galorian and walked over to Kairios. “You are my King, now and always. My first love and father to my children. Thank you for saving my life.” I kissed him. When I pulled back, he grabbed my arm.

“I will always love you, serve you and protect you.” He said and kissed me on the forehead.

Now was the only time to say what we all felt for each other. Saira, she stood apart from us. Always feeling out of place. “My sister, we end this together. Save these lands together. And one day we will live in peace, we have earned it.” I had rested my hand on her shoulder. She lifted her own to cover mine.

“Peace, to wake up and not feel frightened or hunted.” She said in her own promise.

I leaned in and kissed her as well. The love I felt for her was deep and a part of me. One I would fight to the end to protect. I could feel that she felt the same when her lips pressed into mine. I had said all I could, for now at least.

“Give me your bracelets and ring.” Saira said to us. “I’m going to link them. If we get separated then we should be able to find each other again.” She closed her eyes and clasped the jewelry in her hands.

Light filled her hands as she chanted her spell. When she was done, we each took back what was ours. My ring was warm on my finger as I slid it on. I didn’t shy away from the heat, knowing that it tied us all together.

“How do we get into the city?” I asked them.

“The gates have remined closed. There seems to be no other entrance to the city. The walls are being watched. Every five feet stands a guard.” Kairios said.

“The only water-way into the city is a stream that comes from the mountain. It will be watched like the walls.” Galorian added.

“I can see from here a part of the mountain that goes passed the walls. That may be our way in. If we can make down the cliff without being noticed or causing a rock slide, we will be almost halfway to the castle.”

“How well do you remember the streets? Is there a way that we can travel unnoticed?”

“There are some ways that we can walk in shadow of taller buildings but others we will have no choice. We will be seen at one point or another.”

“If we move slow and quiet then we might be able to take the guards quietly without being seen.” Kairios was right. They had done it before to get into our city.

“Okay the plan then, we wait till dark then we climb down the mountain. From there Saira will lead us through the streets.”

There was nothing more we needed to say so I started on our next path. The mountain side would be a hard climb, it was steep and the ledge we would take as slim. A single misstep and we would fall to our death. Drawing deadly attention towards us. The walk was fast. My heart raced in anticipation.

All this time I had been waiting for this day, and now that I was here all I could hope for was to be strong and courageous. That my feet didn’t betray me and that the mountain held true. Time held no sway for me right now, the only measurement I had was how close I was. The ledge we needed to cross was now before me.

It was so slim that when I rested my hand down on it, my hand was wider. I wanted to turn my back to the rock wall but my weapons were in the way. I would have to hug it and keep my weight on the balls of my feet. This was the hardest part of the journey. Small side steps and the tip of my nose on the rock wall. Step after step I went without concern.

I slid my right foot along to the next spot I would put my weight down. When I planted it and started to move my weight over, the ledge gave out. Right where my foot had been turned to rubble and dust. I started to fall!

Panic filled my veins! My balance was lost and I was going to fall to my death. My hands lashed out trying to find something to grab onto. I came away with fists full of air. Everything happened in slow motion, I looked over and saw the wide eyes of Kairios as he tried to reach out a hand to grab me. My hand snaked out on its own down to my belt.

I ripped the knife free and used all the strength I had to slam it into the rock of the mountain. It slid in with a loud grating sound and my wobbling stopped. My right leg was still dangling out over the ledge. The thought of going on was almost too much. But then I looked back at my friends and lovers, I knew I had to find the will to keep going.

I lifted my right foot from the air and placed it back on the ledge. The other side of the break seemed to be sturdy so I tested my weight on it again. I left my blade in the rock so the others would be able to use it as well. I didn’t want to leave it here but I could always come back for it if I truly wanted it back.

We made it over the ledge and were now sliding down the slide that was over the city walls. Every shift in the rock I was worried it would draw attention to us. I cursed quietly and continued on half crouched. My legs started to scream at me for the work I had put them through so far.

We passed the walls and were now in the city. Below the ledge that we sat on I could see a group at the bottom, and they were not human or warlock. A group of water demons waited for us below.