Ever Shade (10 page)

The group had paused in the middle of the room. They were now completely surrounded by the guards. Their eyes shone hot and bright and their fingers and arms rippled with the electricity crackling down their bodies. They seemed absolutely scary. They were like Jack had been, when he had shown her his true self. She hoped they were not here to harm her. They made her hair stand on end as their magic and power buzzed across the room. It was like a swarm of bees, tingling on her skin and making her hair frizz out with the static.

“Um, Ewan, are we in danger here?” Sary asked. She had one hand on her bow and the other with an arrow, ready to fly if needed.

He waved back at her shaking his head but not responding. His other hand flew up, palm facing the guards as he spoke. “Guard of the Teleen, we are here under invitation of your queen. Our Queen Zinara has sent word of our arrival. Please stand down. May I speak with the Captain of the guard?”

The group tightened together as the guards’ proximity grew closer. Everyone backed into each other as sword after sword was drawn and arrows pointed. Knives also were unsheathed and glinting. Shade was sweating and feeling her stomach knot into a tight cramp. She pulled one of her own knives out of her pack and held onto it tightly. Once again she realized her lack of training for a fight. She felt naked and exposed, as she shrank into the circle of bodies around her, and let them shield her from the guard.

The Captain of the guard stepped up and pointed his sword to the ground, he glowed a brilliant white blue all over any of his exposed skin. The fire burned so bright, it hurt Shade’s eyes to look at him. He nodded and almost immediately weaved glamour over his lighted body and assumed a more human appearance. His tan skin over his large muscles still seemed to glow slightly. His eyes were like a blue/green fire that slowly turned to steel grey, and gleamed in the torchlight. He was extremely handsome and his long, dark-black hair was pulled back tightly into a low ponytail. Shade sucked in her breath in awe of him. He narrowed his eyes at the group and smirked.

“So, this is Queen Zinara’s last hope, huh? Don’t really look like much, do you?” He laughed, but it sounded full of spite more than anything else. “You were so easy to surround and entrap. I thought for sure that she would have known better than to send such a weak force to do the job of soldiers. I will never understand her ways.” He walked around the group, all their weapons were drawn but no one seemed to be holding them in attack stance. Everyone was waiting.
Waiting for what
, Shade wished she knew.

He came around to stand by Shade, having passed by the ring of warriors of her group as if they weren’t there. He was staring at Shade with an intensity that almost dug into her skin. He reached out to her to touch her chin. Shade stepped back, remembering what Jack had told her about touching a Teleen. He could electrocute her if he really wanted to, or not. She was not going take the chance to find out.

“Are you afraid of me?” He laughed out loudly as his hand returned down to his side. He seemed to be pondering a thought while studying her face. She made no movement. Leaning forward, he gave a slight tilt to his face, whispering just loud enough for her to hear him. “You rightfully should be.”

He gave his head the slightest of shakes and spun back around towards his guards. He paused signaling them to back off and then turned back to the travelers.

“I have announced you to our queen. She will be most pleased to meet all of you, especially your precious halfling.” He chuckled, sending a tingle across Shade’s skin. He wasn’t just Teleen. She was willing to bet he was something else too, she was almost sure of it. She wasn’t quite sure that he knew it though. Jack couldn’t do magic with his voice like this one could. Shade shivered from the after effects of the rippling laughter. She ran her hands up and down her arms, trying to rub the feeling away with the warmth of friction. She wondered how it was that she could sense that he was different. Maybe a power of hers was waking up within her.

The guard had mostly left by now, after the Captain had signaled to them to leave, and they fell into step behind each other. Everyone was not quite relaxed yet but they were on alert. The group fell in behind the soldiers and followed suite. The hall seemed to stretch on forever and Shade’s stomach grumbled again. She hoped that they would find a nice banquet waiting for them. She could only hope for such a thing from what she had seen so far.

The ground was also made of stone; it was smoothed and worn from years of use. It was also a darker grey and sandy color, with specks of red and yellow speckled throughout it. The entire hall was the same color, no decorations, nothing to show that anyone even lived here, except for the burning torches. It appeared to be abandoned. They reached the end of the great hall as it funneled into a smaller tunnel. The torches continued along each side of the cave. The stone did not change much here either and there were no doors that Shade could find. Claustrophobia seemed to creep into her as she tried to slow her breathing. The air was cooler here, like it never changed in temperature. The smell of earth, mold and humid dirt seemed to grow stronger here. Shade swore she could hear water, like falls echoing far away. These tunnels probably ran so deep that you could pop out the other side of the world.
Not really a comforting thought
.

The hallway finally opened up once again. To Shade’s surprise, it wasn’t to a lair or anything she expected. A huge underground crevice loomed beneath them opening up into a dark void. They were standing on a ledge that to led to a creaky old bridge. The roof of the cave loomed high above them with small streams of sunlight spiking through and piercing the rocks above.

A bridge,
Shade thought nervously. No way would she cross that; it was made of rope and wood, and it didn’t look too sturdy. She sighed as she looked down over the ledge and into the shadowy abyss. She could hear some water echoing and splashing down the sides of the ridge, just to her right. There was probably an underground river down there but it was not visible this far up. The air was cooler here, cool and filled with light misty water sprays that she did not find comforting. Shade had been so engrossed in staring at the rickety bridge that she did not realize the Captain was now standing by her. He was watching her reaction intently, with a slight smile playing on his lips. He seemed to be enjoying her horror of having to cross the creaky bridge.

“So, what’s so special about you? You look less than ordinary.” He stared at her, his breath pressing on her ear, he was that close. She turned and about bumped noses with the Captain. He didn’t budge but seemed to lean closer; invading her space so much Shade actually took a step back. He was still glamoured and grabbed for her arms before she could complete the step, pulling her towards him. His fingers were digging with just enough pressure to hurt her skin. Shade’s breath caught in her throat, she was half relieved he had not shed his glamour and shot her up with electricity. She knew darn well he could at any time.

“Let go of me, what do you want?” She pulled but his grip was firm and hard. His breath was hot and sent shivers down her neck as he pulled her to him, his other arm embraced her like a lover hugging his mistress. Her skin prickled as he let some static electricity seep around her. She heard clinks of swords drawn behind her. He ignored it.

“You almost slipped off the edge. Is that how you say ‘Thank you’, human? I was just watching out for you. You don’t have me fooled, though. I don’t know what Queen Zinara really has planned, but the Teleen will not fall for her actions of jest. She can fight her own fight. You are not true fey. You barely reek of fey blood. I have more magic in my finger than you own in your entire body. I intend to find out what trick is behind this so called quest that will supposedly save us all.” With that he let her go abruptly, making her lose her step as she fumbled to regain her balance. Soap caught her mid-stumble as Jack stood before the Captain.

“That’s enough Dylan,” Jack stated firmly as he put himself between the Captain and Shade. “We have no quarrel. We are here under Teleen protection and you act hostile towards your own guests. The Queen will not be pleased knowing your hospitality was lacking so.” His chest puffed out and his head tilted down, and he was clearly challenging Dylan. Relieved that someone came to her aide, she turned to Soap and he embraced her tightly. She was wracked with nerves; afraid her knees may crumble beneath her.

Dylan snickered and turned back to the bridge. Walking forward to the edge of the landing, he turned around and was smiling slightly, at Shade. He was enjoying the growing terror on her face as he continued walking backwards over the ledge.

Shade screamed but stopped suddenly, and could not believe her eyes. The Captain continued walking backwards as he floated on air and laughed out loud while shaking his head. He then turned and continued walking on. The rest of the guard were also laughing and followed behind him. They obviously got a kick out of watching their visitors freak when they learned about the invisible bridge. The entire guard walked across and did not fall into the ravine.

They have an invisible bridge?
Shade and the group followed slowly sheathing their weapons. They stepped tentatively onto the bridge that was seemingly made of air, still not convinced it was solid. Shade walked forward, it was like standing on glass, and she was surprised her legs did not go through. She could see the looming darkness below, swallowing up the rocks.

Shade took a deep breath and continued following the rest of the warriors, trying not to look down and through the glass bridge. The cool air did not comfort her, as she didn’t know where the sides of the glass bridge were or how narrow it could be. She made sure she didn’t step anywhere the guards hadn’t stepped already.

On the other side, they re-entered a cave but this one branched into three tunnels, everyone stayed to the left and continued down the dark corridor, until they reached another large room. It was lit brightly and it seemed as if it was the daylight sun shining in there, but Shade could not find any windows, but she did see other Teleen. There were torches that lined the walls in this room too, and they seemed more for decoration than anything else.

The guard had split up around the room; they lined the walls in a single file. Great stone columns with veins of multi colored cracks laced with gold were at the room’s edges. Large drapes of fabric spilled down the walls in colors of crimson and jade, bringing color to the cold stone walls. Everyone inside the middle of the room wore bright colored clothing, dresses and flowing shirts. The Teleen were all staring and seemly had never been told that that could be considered as rude. It must be commonplace among the fey to stare. Whispers floated around the air as people commented on the new arrivals. Some who were near them reached out and touched them and pulled at their clothes in soft tugs of curiosity. Some of the women giggled as they watched Jack walk by.

The Teleen all wore some sort of glamour, covering their electrifying blue fire skins, looking ethereal with their translucent skin and large eyes. Some glamoured to appear like humans, but were far too beautiful to pass as one. Their noses were thin and straight, and they had large almond shaped eyes, with perfect luscious pink/red lips. She wondered how much time they actually spent with actual humans outside this morbid place. Jack and Soap did a fine job on their own glamours. At least they could blend in a society. They had studied well.

There was a throne in the center of the far wall; it had large, grey, sleek and worn stones that were used for steps that lead to the massive dais, and the queen’s throne sat upon the great platform. It was also stone but a lighter, harder and more intricately carved. It was probably made out of marble but Shade was no expert. Different colored veins ran through the stone but that did not break up the smoothness of the carvings.

The Queen herself stared at Shade through large black eyes. They were very similar to Lady Blythe’s luminous insect eyes, but she did not glamour herself. Her fiery blue skin glowed brightly and seemed to hum with the crackle of electricity. There were constant flames flowing over her body. Her hair looked also afire but did not burn; it was a dark color with the highlight of blue crackling through it.
So that is what a full Teleen woman looks like unshielded,
Shade thought. She also noticed some of the guard and attendees were in full Teleen glow too.

They had reached the throne when Ewan knelt down before the blue lightning queen with his head bowed. Everyone followed suit as he spoke. “Your Majesty, Queen Gretel of the Teleen. We have come from the Guildrin clan in the city of Aturine, and greet you with open arms and love from our Queen Zinara. We were told of your great hospitality and ask of you only permission to rest the night and continue our journey tomorrow.”

The Queen glanced around at them, taking in what she saw. She nodded the slightest of nods and spoke with a voice that echoed off the walls and rippled through the air like a cool mountain breeze. “Please stand, I am aware of your coming from my sister Zinara. She has spoken well of all of you and I find you most deserving of her praise. Please also forgive my guards, they find torturing any visitors to be quite amusing. We don’t get too many visitors here, as you might see. We are an isolated clan and the last of the Teleen blood you will find anywhere in the world. We are a dying breed. But we are powerful and most mischievous. I find it a great pleasure that I am able to aid you on your quest to the Santiran fountains. Please, make yourselves comfortable and accept our great hospitality.” She waved her arm over the crowd as they stood and found that tables had been set up in two rows, one on either side of them. One by one the tiny flying demi-fey servants came out and placed candelabras, bowls, goblets and overflowing platters of food on the tables. They were dressed with great long robes with long flowing linen. Fruits, meat and rolls of soft bread filled the middle of the great tables. Shade felt her stomach rumble with hunger and all of them were looking at each other with glee dancing on their faces.