Apparition I (EN)

Day 21, Month of Solarith, Year 601

Marion kicked off the clammy sheets and rolled closer to the edge of the bed. On a hot and humid summer evening, with no breeze to stir the curtains of the opened windows, the night air was very still but for the drizzle that dripped on the hillside. The villagers below were calling the last few days ‘Hell’s furnace’; to those who have never witnessed how truly horrible things could be in the underworlds, it was just an expression. However, for those who have been there and back, it could take on a whole new meaning.

A glimmer caught her eye as she turned around with her eyes half-closed, waiting for the familiar rumbling in the sky to follow. She was about to drift back into sleep when she noticed that the glow had not faded and was not from the window but from the back of the bedroom. Keeping her eyes partially shut, her body tensed at the threat. Her hand crept under the pillow for the familiar steel hidden in the bed’s headrest.

Her head moved in the direction of the light; she barely opened an eye in hopes of getting a better look. There was still something there, white and shiny, soundless and motionless, but too close to the ground for her to make out. She slid the knife out and, in a quick motion, tumbled and rolled out of the bed without a sound. The shining shape was that of a humanoid in a white hooded cloak, crouched on the floor, looking down.

As she prudently moved towards it, the head rose, revealing the face of a middle-aged woman, partly hidden by her hair, half-closed sunken eyes, and drawn traits. It was only when the eyes fully opened, and the hair parted that Marion recognized Dael’s beloved wife. Daina’s strained eyes hinted at a twinkle of hope as their gazes met. Marion reached out to hold her, but there was nothing there, only hot, humid air. She called out to her husband to wake him up. Otis's head rose as he grumbled at the disturbance. At the sight of the glowing figure, he hurried out of bed.

The soundless figure was trying to speak, but Marion could not make out the words. She noticed that her friend’s hands were bound by chains. Daina’s eyes were imploring her for help. Focusing on Daina’s mouth, Marion tried to read her lips as best she could. Help. Ok. Hurry. Yes. Get the Hell?? No, no… Get Dael! As Otis neared the apparition, Daina’s head snapped to her right, a look of horror filled her face, and she disappeared in the darkness of the night.

Otis and Marion were left staring at the empty floor for long moments. They exchanged glances to ensure they weren't dreaming about what they had just seen. Struggling to make out the words Daina was so desperately trying to convey, Marion slowly paced about. Otis sat back down at the edge of their bed.

Otis broke the silence, “What are you thinking, Marion?”

“Did you see the chains?”

“No, she disappeared as I got close, didn’t get a good look. It was Daina?” Otis replied.

“Yeah. I couldn’t hear a sound, but she needs help. And Dael too.” Otis’ eyebrows arched.

She then went back and pulled out a large coffer from under the bed. Without a word, Otis reached out of the window and quietly beckoned an owl from a nearby tree.

“We have to reach Hokar and Earendel. Now,” as she put on clothes that fit a little tighter than she remembered them to be, hissing under the effort. Black leather pants with a dark grey shirt. She held the old, worn-out black cloak a moment longer, recalling the last time she wore it. It was to save her son’s soul in the underworld. The memory brought a shiver.

Otis reached for his gear. The brown leather armor, with the tan pants. He left his green cloak at the edge of the bed. He struggled a bit to adjust the quiver at his side, fighting with the belt buckle and scabbard.

“Birds are flying, but it’ll take them weeks to reach Brineborn. Hokar’s not back from the Sudavaria Empire,” his voice steady, measured, as he rubbed his greying goatee. “Earendel’s our best option. He has resources we don’t. I’ll get the horses ready.”

Marion nodded. Her gaze was still fixed on where the apparition was.

She raised her left hand, “Wait.”

“There may be a quicker way.” She knelt over to the coffer with a sly smile. Otis stopped in his tracks, a frown etching itself as he turned about with a confused look.

Marion drew the scroll from its protective engraved bone casing, looking over it for a few moments, still pondering over her decision to travel this way. Otis’ eyes went wide. He hurried back to Marion, laying a hand on her arm.

“You’re not seriously thinking of doing that!” His voice cracked faintly, like ice, contrasting with his naturally slow, river-like pace.

Marion looked Otis straight in his eyes, her playful side now replaced by grim determination. “Horses won’t be fast enough.” His hand remained on her arm, preventing her from unrolling the parchment in her hands.

“When was the last time you even attempted something like this?”

Marion exhaled and held her beloved’s gaze for a moment. “Never,” she whispered. “But if we’re too late…”

Otis held her gaze, gave a short grunt, turned back, and walked to the window, looking into the drizzling mist. “If we don’t get there at all, it won’t help either. We’re taking horses.”

Marion bit her lower lip and walked back to the bed. She toyed with the scroll and set it at the edge.

“Daina’s in trouble, and in pain. That’s too slow.” She joined her husband by the window, sliding her arms around his waist.

“Have to go now,” she whispered in his neck. Otis pulled away from her, turned to face her, and their eyes met. He let out a loud breath, stiffly nodded as he drew her close again.

For more than twenty years, she had watched her friend, the red mage, perform both wonderful and less pleasant conjurings, and she never doubted him. But magic had and always remained his province, not hers. In case of dire emergency, he had left her a few items, some of his own making, like the pouch of sand that put people to sleep and that scroll that would allow a few people to travel great distances in the blink of an eye.

For the few times that she had to travel with him by magical means, it had always left her a little dizzy and disoriented for a while. But then, he was weaving the magic; her trust in her friend outweighed her discomfort.

Now, she was to be the one to utter the words in the arcane language, and she would bear the responsibility of where they would end up and how. Marion drew a deep breath to steady her hands. She glanced at her husband, then back at the runes on the scroll. Please let this work.  She clenched her left hand into a fist. Remembering the grim situation Daina was in and the need to travel fast strengthened, just enough, her resolve.

“Hold me and close your eyes,” she instructed her husband.

Closing her eyes for a moment, she did her best to picture the place where she wanted to bring them. Marion recalled as many details as she could muster, as Dael had instructed her to do before reading the runes. Then she opened her eyes and started to read the words of magic. With each syllable that she uttered, the rune flared up in a silvery shimmer, glowing stronger with each word.

As she spoke the last word, their bedroom started spinning increasingly fast. It stopped abruptly, facing a corner of the room by the window, and then everything seemed to stretch towards the dark horizon. It felt like they flew over forests, rivers, and mountains. She could not focus on any landmark, and time too appeared to stretch beyond measure, but in her mind, she kept the image of where she wanted to go. She only noticed then that she had stopped breathing when everything stopped moving.

Marion could feel her husband’s grip had gone a little tighter around her waist. She blinked rapidly; they were in a courtyard by a large water fountain. It was still night where they now were and even hotter than back home. She could smell the sea air that the faint wind brought. She heard a shout to her left, then a voice on one of the wall’s parapets calling for help.

“Halt! Who goes there?” someone shouted. People rushed towards them, slowly drawing their weapons.