Elyria's Sacrifice

“The next two towns should be calmer without many rumours of the war reaching them yet.” I stated. Meli's head swivelled to look at me smiling. “Best for us to act like a minor group of minstrels offering stories and music without truly stating our origins.” I continued slowly. “It should gain us lodging and extra coinage to complete the trip easier once we reach Greece.”

“Most of our stories would be hard to explain without mentioning Atlantis.” Meli returned.

“Lost tales?” Sert suggested. Meli tilted her head in a half nod to him.

“Try using tales from life at the orphanage.” I continued. “Orphanages abound and it could be seen as happening anywhere.” I explained.

“Considering our stay in the orphanage was a hundred years or more, it may be hard to escape the amount of adventures we could speak about.” Sert retorted.

“Not to mention all the magical events and abilities it would reveal.” Meli agreed.

“Present them as lost myths and legends of an unknown land we hazarded upon during our journeys?” I countered. “Magic and mysticism are typical in many mythologizes the world over making the odd events seem normal in our stories.” I explained slowly. My companions nodded back slowly their agreement. “You are not truly convinced?” I added with a chuckle.

“I see it as being rare that they will not guess that we speak of Atlantis.” Meli admitted.

“Maybe this story can be your best example.” I stated. “It is a combination of three or four tales I have heard in passing that when tied together makes a very moving story without showing where it ever took place.” I told them. I took a deep breath before beginning to tell them of my greatest sorrow.

In a land cast in permanent darkness because of what had been imprisoned there long ago, a messenger rode out with rabid creatures at his heels. He sought the man of legends that had helped place the monster in chains that stirred once again. The one that ruled here had fallen under that monster's spell somehow and was preparing to sacrifice his own innocent daughter to the vile creature. The messenger and the young girl feared this would release the beast enchained here but she could not escape this fate without assistance.

The hundred black scaled creatures that chased him were gaining ground quickly as he rode headlong down the path. His mount screamed in agony from the wounds that spurted blood behind them goading the creatures to continue their pursuit. As his mount faltered, the closest creature pounced at him. He threw himself forward hoping to escape while knowing this was to be the moment of his death.

The arrow of light flew by him as he floated for but a moment before hitting the ground hard. Shrieks of agony and fear erupted from the creatures. Their sharp claws skittering as they forced themselves to stop. The messenger glanced back to spy the one that had leaped at him frozen in the air with a glowing shaft impaling it. A row of black flames rose at his back as a deep chuckle sounded before him.

“You are right my husband, something dire has started here.” a female voice hissed. The messenger turned to see a man in white armour glowing brightly standing with a scaled covered woman. He gulped in relief at the sight of what he had sought being there as if summoned by his own thoughts.

“Has she broken free yet?” the man screamed at the messenger.

“I do not know Great Master overall.” he returned. The pain he had not noticed suddenly took him as blood exploded from his mouth. “Hurry please, young Karina is to be sacrificed upon the monster's seal.” he added. With the words forced out and his duty accomplished, one shuddering breath filled with blood left the messenger as he died.

“He died that easily?” Sert remarked. Meli shushed him.

“Continue please.” she whispered to me.

“And the poisoned land claims him.” the woman whispered.

“It is why we placed her here, my love.” the man replied softly. “And why those guardians that chased him were set here.” he added.

“It is best we make haste to reach the seal before they release my sister's evil upon all that lives and will live.” she returned angrily.

“She changes reality into her dark dreams and many have already fallen because of her.” the man replied. They stepped forward together and the distance melted between the edge of this land and the gates of the lone outpost. The gates were closed before them as they step out of nothingness.

“I have feared this reunion for centuries my husband.” she muttered. Her hand reached out to touch the gate which shattered and melted from the black fire she wielded. “But I must do my duty as much as you must do yours.” she added under her breath.

“If she is still bound, we will remove all from here so none can be touched by her darkness.” he returned softly. “We let the lands consume them and my pets continue their vigil for eternity.”

“You would hold prophecy at bay simply to keep me even if you risk losing everything else?” she stated. The edge of anger and annoyance weaved in her words to him.

“I would slaughter all other living creature to keep you safely at my side, my sweet Lyra.” he answered softly. She reached out to touch his face. Black fire played along his jawline and cheek but could not consume the flesh. “Without you, existence is empty and without purpose for me.” he whispered.

“That is truly a deep and steadfast love.” Meli gushed suddenly. I heard her sigh and Sert groan keeping my face passive and empty of emotions.

“Yes, now may I continue?” I asked blankly. Meli blushed as she nodded to me.

“So you wait until your duties are done to allow me to do mine?” she whispered back. The man simply nodded rubbing his face against her hand. She smiled softly at him before kissing his cheek quickly. “We save Karina and leave my sister to her nearly eternal prison.”

They walked in silence through the halls of the outpost searching for signs of Karina as they made their way to the seal. The unearthly silence wrapped around them as they walked side by side toward the unhinged door. Within the room that held the seal stood a girl barely old enough to bear children and an aged man holding a great sword in hand ready to smith her down.

They charged into the room as the man grappled the father by the throat to pound him hard against the back wall of the room. His wife was at his side as the girl began giggling like a madman in the deepest throes of insanity. Before the man could turn to see what was wrong, the wall before him exploded outward in black flames. He was being tossed from the room as the sound of many clicks echoed like a swarm of insects behind him. The giggles of madness rang out as he slowly turned to peer into the room.

Lyra stood frozen in place by multiple wire-thin rods that had fired from ceiling, walls, and floors. She smiled softly at him as he stood helplessly watching her die. He saw the girl by the door they had entered scowling at him. His eyes returned to gaze upon his wife seeing her feet slowly dissolving into the nothingness of true death.

“They need you more than you will ever know my love.” she whispered like thunder in his mind. “I was never truly important and do my duty by freeing you for them.” she continued. “Be strong and never allow this moment to turn you toward hate.” she concluded.

As her final words echoed in his mind and from the room, his anger unleashed. The outpost shattered around him into dust as he launched into pursuing the monster they had unwilling liberated into existence once more. But that hunt is a different tale.

I had remained passive as I told the tale as much as any storyteller would while watching my companions reaction. Meli had tears in her eyes from the moment my wife died. Sert's had been glum during the display of love but even he could not fight the glistening mist that formed in his eyes during Elyria's final words. Both gazed at me as I sat with but a soft sad smile on my face.

“It can be that simple even if I shortened it a bit.” I told them. They nodded back to me in silence. They glanced at one another before spurting out stories they remembered. I laughed and listen not truly thinking about anything for a while. After a few hours or more of travel, they selected a dozen or more tales together to use in the next town. I only commented on the order but remain silent otherwise listening to them speaking of their past misdeeds. I mentioned to them that I would only play music in the background while trying to refrain from storytelling allowing them to be the main focus. They seemed to take this news well as they continued practising their tales while I listened. We ate as we travelled and they practised while I had the chance to simply listen and be at peace for once.

“Once we know how rampant the rumours of war are, I will see if we can cross to Greece earlier.” I informed them. They glanced back at me. “I cannot promise we will get across in this town, but be ready just in case.” I told them. They smiled back at me not questioning why I had doubts. They simply confided in my thoughts this easily. I smiled back as they returned to practicing their two main tales for the coming night.