Devryn - "The Bridges We Build"
We looked down on the entry gate to the
massive stone bridge. The twin spires
reached skyward with its thoroughfare pinned between, spanning across the deep
gorge to another pair marking its completion on the other side. Time had not crippled this edifice, only
blotched the surface in ochre stains. A
testament to the long-forgotten craftsmen.
The Fates smiled on us this day, as
it seemed only restless soldiers hid among the patches of stone and trees along
the road that led up to its arcades.
Could count no more than eight on random mounds, sprawled out under makeshift
lean-tos.
I sighed in exasperation as I rested
my chin on my hands, scanning to be sure the she-elf had not found her way here. Persistent.
“We can take those guys. No problem,” Seth turned to look at me, his
sunburned nose and cheeks a bright pink.
“But do we want to? Leaving bodies?”
“Dump them below.”
I peered out, “Probably should not let
anyone think we passed through
here. Keep them guessing.” Caution should temper this decision. The Graud Vuasari Bridge makes a reliable
choke point, and would let my pursuers mark my westerly progress. The Vuasari River cut through the steppes, traveling
north and south when this far north. The
stubborn river lacked that temerity to dry up, years of fashioning a rocky canyon
to mark its dominance.
A climb down echoed in my head as
not the worst idea. But it would be the
swim across that would most likely kill us, though. A plunge in its fast-moving waters, pressing
you against the jagged walls on either side, if not grinding you to meal on the
rocks below.
“What do we do?” Seth whispered.
I shook my head, “You know they
can’t hear you at this distance?”
Raina clicked her tongue, “We can’t
go around. A day, at least, either way”.
She was right. There were fording points about a day north
and a highly patrolled bridge by Prince Messra’s soldiers almost two days
south. The canyon did have safer areas
to swim, where Vuasari’s rapids were lessened between the wider gaps.
“I’m a bit hungry and would like a
warm bed. Or, at least something over my
head for a night.” I added. “Inna Bogarta is long-days walk west of here,
with some manors along the way. Plenty
of opportunities to rest and mend”
Looking at Seth’s face, beyond his
reddened cheeks, his features had dulled and grown a bit pasty. The constant exposure to the steppe marred
his jovial visage. He could prance about
all he wanted but death comes in all forms.
“We could wait them out,” Seth
offered.
Raina looked to the scene and back
again. “They are all positioned off the
bridge. We could skirt the canyon and
get behind them. They should be
expecting… you to come up on them from that direction,” nodding to the road. “We should wait for dark to cross.”
I looked at her, a moment too long,
“Hmm… okay.”
Seth smiled one of those teeth-filled
smiles. I’m starting to not like that
smile.
With that, we each found spots under
the stunted trees, a poor attempt to get out of the sun while staying warm from
the frosty air. The others lounged,
sleeping when they could, as we waited for nightfall. As inconspicuous as I could make it, I began
examining the tattoos. They were all
over my body… arms, legs, feet.
Getting
curious, meatbag?
I could feel a sharp nail prick my foot as I looked at a swirling set of
lines that ran along the inside of my foot.
Pulling on the boot, I felt you were near.
Yeah,
meatbag should.
I couldn’t see him but furrows in the sand showed clawed feet next to my
leg.
Where
have you been?
Around, he purred with an odd, guttural hum.
Molesting
things, I imagine.
I could almost hear his lips curl
into a grin.
Please,
explain to me what is going on.
You
are being hunted by an angry elf…
Look,
you flying piece of..., my anger rose and I could see a
retreat in the sand. With this! I said in a huff, lifting my
jerkin a little to expose the intricate lines and swirls of blue.
Master,
I am not. But what I have seen, you are
marked by the Trebeche an’ Winsunik circle of affirmation.
The
swirl? The first tattoo?
Yes. It opens your… The imp passed, no
word for your tongue… but, maybe a gate or door, I think.
I sat there soaking it in. The cool wind made my exposed arms rise in
goosepimples.
The
pointy ear, she go to do something.
Bam! She, like… sucked in. Never seen that before. The
imp kicking a loose stone only echoed the nonchalance in his tone with the last
statement. You might die.
A chuckle fluttered in my mind and I heard its wings flap and he
left me to my thoughts.
* * * *
Night fell. The evening calls from the tiny steppe birds
quieted and left a calm among the sandy dunes.
I dozed in and out. Flashes of the elf mage writhing in pain waking
me twice. The creature’s words still
hung in my brain, she was sucked in. They could not seem more truer based on the
dried husk that was left behind.
Seth alerted me that they were ready
to go. I joined them as they found our
previous vantage point, looking out onto the bridge. One moon sat low in the sky leaving everything
in a near-inky blackness. My vision battled
between my normal sight and perceiving everything in muted grays, depending on
where the light touched. A throb began
to pulse behind my eyes. Not used to
this.
“No campsite,” Seth said.
“A sign they are waiting for
something… or somebody,” I added.
We climbed down and stalked over to
the edge of the gorge. Every step made
with caution as the sand seemed tense and ready to betray us at any
moment.
Hushed voices picked up in volume as
we drew closer to the road. A lookout
position on top of a neighboring mound alerted us to our nearing the mouth. Seth led the way, often melting into the deep
shadows and brush. Raina next, her
footfalls also demonstrated her talent to be quiet when she wanted. I could not keep their pace as my boots
seemed to scream in my ears, like an ox dancing on a wood floor.
The stone pillars of the bridge came
into the sight in the gloom, promising our finish to this game. Seth climbed down into the gorge, briefly
disappearing in its maw, and then back into view as he scaled the side of a
bridge support.
Raina took the safer route of edging
over the bridge’s sidewall, swinging her feet over on her belly. As I stepped up to mimic her maneuver, the
palm of my left hand began to itch. The pinch
of small needles prickling my flesh would not stop. I swung over, looking as Seth skirted the
wall, heading away, with Raina in tow.
To his right, I made out a small urn sitting in the middle of the bridge,
blanked in the blackness, but gray to my eyes.
Crap.
“Tssss… Seth,” I risked a hard whisper. He kept moving. Keeping low, I hurried to catch up.
“Seth, stop…” I watched as the seal along the urn’s cap
turned bright red, then a vivid yellow. A
fiery eruption burst forth. Seth slammed
into the stone, collapsing to the ground.
Raina, from the force, was flung upward and over the low wall, her hands
desperately grabbing for a purchase.
I rushed over, locking my hands on
her wrists as she dangled above the hidden abyss below. Her eyes pled to mine in fear, don’t let go.
With a heave, I pulled with
everything I had. Her light frame came
freely, her legs lifting over and scrambling to stand.
When she stood safe, it was too late
for me to hear the scuffing of boots on the bridge to realize the full threat. I turned to see men running up, bows
drawn.
I flung my jacket free, ready to
pull my blade. An arrow loosed. It found my upper chest. Pain washed over me, and with all the momentum
and movement, my hip rolled against the wall, and over I went.
