Rasataalian Adventure No.1.5: Northern Winds Lead to Ixouz'ai
~*Three years later*~
The twin crescent moons embraced the lush and green of the sprawling Rasataalian countryside. Closing his eyes, Amri inhaled the freshness of winter air. Every part of his being felt at peace.
Amri began walking, making his way over a hillside to see a familiar stone of fire in the sky. It had been almost a year since he had stepped foot in Fallen Star. As he reached the edge of the settlement, a familiar voice had called out to him.
“Amri!” Talin shouted “My how you’ve grown, child! Come, you must tell me of your studies with the Magi at Dy’nalle over some supper.”
Amri smiled. Despite the chilled breeze, he felt a warmness as they walked through the settlement. Seeing its inhabitants preparing for the coming of winter, a redness washed his face as his lips turned to a smile.
“I see there’s been some construction while I’ve been away.” Amri comments, staring at an unfinished temple of marble behind them.
Suddenly Talin lets out a gasp. Amri turns toward her. “What is it?” he asks “It’s just your doorwa-”
“Shush Amri!” she exclaimed “I sense...I sense something very dark within.” she pauses for a brief moment “Dark...but not quite malicious.”
She then turns towards her door, and with the flick of her fingers, it opens before them. Talin gestures to Amri, beckoning him to enter behind her.
An unsettling darkness greets them. The silence of the room is only broken by the sound of their breathing...and that of one other being.
“Let me ignite a torch. I can’t see anything.” Amri says, readying his fingers to cast a spell.
Talin quickly grabs his hand, signaling him not to proceed.
“Well I can’t quite tell what a vampyre would want with an old woman and her ward,” Talin says to the dark, “but I can promise you’ll beg to let dawn’s light take you before I’m finished.”
From the shroud of dark, two glistening eyes of crimson manifested and began to move closer till they towered above them both.
Suddenly a flickering flame sparks before them, lighting their faces in the dark. A large elven woman stood before them. Her eyes encircled in nightly murk and rest upon an ashen, pale face. She's adorned with a large, flopping conical hat that appears weathered and slightly burned in some places, with a tulle veil that cuts off above her nose, as to only slightly conceal her eyes. He begins scaling the rest of her, seeing she's outfitted in a chainmail shirt engulfed in a long, black cloak that seemingly flirts with the surrounding shadows, overlaying her intimidating figure. Amri notices to her left, the pommel of what looks like an intricately designed sword of jet with ruby inlays reflecting the fire in her palms, but what suddenly grabs his attention is the large, bulky chest of decorated steel chained to her back.
She smiles at them both, revealing twin serpentine fangs. She points her finger forth.
“Talin Okusanya, why, I never would have expected such ferocity from such a sweet old woman.” she says, letting out a cackle. “You both can put your guard down. I’m here only on business.”
“And that's any reason to invade the sanctity of this home?' Talin angrily responds. "Who are you, and what sort of business do you want from us?”
The woman’s smile quickly turns to a scowl, and in a stoic tone, she simply replies “Imperial business.” before looking Amri in the face.
“Is this the ‘hero’ who stopped the Ashuvrahqt ‘Aild?” she scoffs “I would’ve never guessed him to be such a whelp.”
Amri clenches his fists and yells “Why don’t you just spit it out already! What do you want from us?”
Her eyes widened “Ahh! Now there’s that fire I've heard about. My name is Irym. I’m a Witch-Knight under the service of our Emperor Na 'Usaden, and I’ve been tasked to find you, boy.” she says as she pulls a scroll from a pocket within her cloak and hands it to Amri.
“What is this?” he asks.
She pauses a moment before replying “By the imperial power vested in me, I must take you, Amri, to the North; to Ixouz’ai, city of Blades. There your talents will be put to the test as you assist me in vanquishing a new threat to Rasataal.”
To Be Continued in Whispers Beyond Yehv-Ul ‘Kashra’s Icy Peak: A Rasataalian Adventure!
Artwork by Francis Roberts
