Chapter Text
Gauzy oranges and cloudy pinks helped to create the perpetual haze of dawn that settled once more over the sand and silt of the Immemorial City. "City" is a loose term though, for it is more a graveyard of what once was a city. Buildings and statues that once reached to the sky, now loomed over the landscape, casting crumbled and gnarled shadows along broken roads caked with dust.
After the triumph and adrenaline had worn off, their emotions gave way to a somber silence. The beleaguered fellowship left behind the doors of the Crone’s temple and made their way back toward the falls. At the edge of the river, they stood shoulder to shoulder, staring up at the wall of water before them. Graydon’s loss became a phantom limb, evident in the empty space between Boorman and Willow. Airk to the left of Willow and then Elora, Kit, and Jade to the right of Boorman. Gratefully, the deafening silence was smothered by the loud rush of gallons upon gallons of cascading water pounding the surrounding rock and pooling into the river before them to create a vacuum of sound they were all happy to be in for a moment. As their immediate elation and laughter had worn off, they were all reminded that while they had found Airk, their fellowship was obviously missing a member.
Elora gripped the flute she still carried in her hand and found herself looking back over her shoulder once more, the expectation to see Graydon shone clear in her pale blue eyes. There was something still tugging at her, pulling, even calling, and it wasn’t just guilt. She felt a hand on her shoulder and turned her head to Kit.
“You good?” Kit glanced up and gave a half-grin of understanding. Elora nodded and again faced the falls. “Um, Willow, do we have a flying spell or something?”
The Nelwyn chuckled. “Can’t say I’ve mastered that one yet.” He craned his neck up at the wall of water.
Airk moved closer to the edge of the river and squatted down to scoop water in his mouth first, and then run more water over his face. He hissed at the throbbing cut on his face, his hands coming away with blood. “Hey, uh, anybody got a bandage or anything? My face is killing me.”
Kit was at his side a moment later squatting down beside him and taking small sips of water. She angled herself toward her twin. “Let me see your face.” She contorted her face in reaction to the sight of the bloody gash on his face. “Yeesh! Sorry about that.”
Airk shrugged. “Well, I was trying to kill you.” He gave a weak smile.
Kit leaned her head against her brother’s. “Not even close.”
The siblings shared a laugh and a hug. “Let’s see what these two wizards know about fixing your face.”
“I don’t know,” Jade said as she moved past the siblings, closer to the water’s edge. “I hear some folks dig scars.”
A matching pair of grey eyes followed the path of the curly redhead. Jade wore a sly smirk on her face, then reached over Airk’s shoulder and handed him a piece of ripped cloth dampened with water. “You should clean that up first.” Jade winked at Kit and then moved to go back to the others. On her way past the twins, she trailed the fingers of her left hand across the back of Kit’s neck just beneath the metal choker of the cuirass.
Airk wiped at his face and his shoulders shook with laughter watching Kit close her eyes at the touch. He snickered and Kit snapped her eyes open, cheeks inflamed. “Don’t even say it.” He stood up and laughed the whole way back to the gathered group.
“Anybody got any magic for my face?” he wondered aloud.
Boorman jumped and yelped at the sight of the crown prince. “Your highness, that - is - gnarly.” He drew his face close to Airk’s and peered at the gash. He stood up straight and then slapped him hard on the shoulder. “Man, all that needs is some needle and thread. That’s going to make for a right sexy scar. Nobody’s gonna turn that scar down.”
“See!” Jade said with a laugh. She waved Airk over to sit down.
“Everyone loves scars!” Boorman’s gruff voice echoed off the rocks. He walked around a big boulder and plodded closer to the falls while they tended to Airk.
A few moments later, Boorman’s yells had them on their feet. “You guys! Look!” The group rushed to the edge of the bank.
A Boorman damp with the spray of the waterfall emerged from behind a boulder. “You’re not going to believe this – “he paused and pointed behind him. “I found the stairs.”
A chorus of groans and “shut, it Boorman” roared up.
He threw his hands up. “Fine then, don’t believe me. I’m outta here. Toodles!” He saluted them and then disappeared behind the wall of water.
A too-long pause came and went before Jade squinted in his direction. “Boorman?! Stop messing around.” With a hand on her sword, she stalked past the falls and moved to the space Boorman had occupied only moments before. Jade traversed the rocks and made it to the other side. She stepped around the corner and gaped. “Well, shit.”
“Told you!” Boorman’s voice called from above her. He bounced down a few steps until she could see him. “Now, can we please go?!”
Jade’s smile was wide.
* * *
Somewhere around what they were all sure was the 1,000th stair they were all ready to simply just die. Groans and moans echoed up the stone stairs swallowed by the water.
“Boorman, if we get out of this, I’m going to kill you.” Kit threatened between heaving breaths. She slid down to a step with a clank of metal, the armor still on.
“And we are all going to help.” Jade added.
“I think – I – can see- the top.” Elora crawled on her knees up to a landing, her words puffed out between deep breaths. Willow only grunted in response. “No, I’m serious. We’re getting there.”
A small eternity later, the stairs indeed ended and deposited them in a limestone room. The rush of the water finally dulled.
“And now we’re trapped,” Kit whined.
Willow ignored the grumbling of those around him and rolled to his feet. He passed the wand through the air and then struck it on the ground. A rumble echoed through the room and then a spot on the floor opened. With a thrum, an archway rose up, filling the space. From their prone positions on the floor six sets of eyes looked up at the newly formed arch.
“Is that a door? Cause it feels like a door?” Boorman popped to his feet.
Willow scouted around the pillars until he found what he was looking for - an inscription in the stone. “Looks like we may have a way out of here.” The sound of hurried shuffling was all that could be heard as the group got to their feet. All six companions gathered around the gate. “This is a gate that will take us home.” He waved his staff again and a thin silvery film appeared between the arch. “The idea is to think of home and then we step through.”
Boorman clapped his hands together and pushed himself through to the front. “Alright, troops. Who’s ready to get out of here.” Five hands raised immediately. “Alright Willow, send us through.”
The sorcerer rolled his eyes. “It’s not that simple, Boorman. We’ve got to be smart.”
Elora stepped up and waved her hand at the gate. “Ooh! Can I do this one?” She peered hard at the writing. “It says, set your heart on home.” She kept scanning until she perked up. “Yanna veghoa!”
The gate hissed and then the thin film shimmered. The bearded man rubbed his hands together briskly in anticipation. “Let’s go guys. Everybody, think of home.” Boorman barreled through first, with Elora, Kit, Jade, and Airk daisy chained behind him.
“Wait! Everyone! You have-
Willow’s words were drowned out by excited hoots. With a sigh, the elder Nelwyn simply rubbed his forehead in consternation and then stepped through the archway. This was going to be a right mess.
TBC...