The City of Shadows

The Ramparts

Standing atop the Center Wall, one could see the streets and markets below. While the sun was out in its full glory, many homes had their curtains drawn, its inhabitants fast asleep. For the man standing calmly on the ramparts, it was easy to wish it were him peacefully sleeping instead. Being one of the most influential figures in the city had its ups and downs, and the sleeping routine was never a marketing point within the Observatory.

The meeting was planned out to a tee. There would be no guards on this area of the wall for another fifteen minutes, most onlookers would be asleep or at least blinded by their curtains, and no one was expecting a secret meeting to take place in this sector anyways. This calculated meeting was of no surprise to him, as The Watcher of the Light had a tendency to be incredibly thorough. What did surprise him, however, was the manner in which she arrived.

Merak: "You're late."

She came hurrying up the stairs taking two at a time. Her suit and hair were a mess, but he sensed not as much of a mess as her mind.

Solar: "Forgive me. I got lost on my way."

Lie. He knew she knew every street, alleyway, and underground tunnel in this city better than the city itself did.

Merak: "What's on your mind, your Lightness?"

She shot him a look, and a momentary flicker of clarity flashed in her eyes. It was gone almost as soon as it came. She walked over to the edge of the wall, crossed and rested her arms on the smooth stone, and looked outward to the Outer Wall.

Solar: "I'll have none of that 'your Lightness' business. Are we not friends enough to look past that?"

Grinning, he walked over to join her.

Merak: "I would surely hope so, your Lightness."

This only seemed to gift him with a solid fist into his shoulder.

Merak: "OW! That's not even fair, I don't have my armor on."

Solar smiled at him and shrugged her shoulders around to show off the shining gleam of her armor. After sharing a smile for a moment, her face became downcast once more, and turned her attention back out to the Outer Wall. He noticed this abrupt change, and knew it was time to get serious.

Merak: "Be honest. I know you didn't go through all this trouble of seeing me just to punch me."

Solar: "I've been having premonitions. Dreams, if you will. Something is going to happen, and I need to know if I'm right."

She looked at him with great worry in her eyes, burdened not only by thoughts but also the lives of everyone within these walls. He sighed for a moment, but didn't waste much time in giving her an answer.

Merak: "I know of which you speak. I have had similar readings as well. I was actually about to send for a messenger when your Dawn Guard came in."

She stood up straight with surprise upon hearing his answer.

Solar: "So... it's true then? It's really time?"

He looked over at her with a sad smile in his eyes, looked back over to the Outer Wall, then finally looking down at the wall he was leaning against and nodded his head. Instantly thrown into a flurry of thoughts, she started pacing back and forth.

Merak: "So what do we do now?"

She stopped for a second to gaze at her friend's face, before deciding it was too much and continued her pacing.

Solar: "There's not much we can do. The curse is very explicit, all we can do is wait. Then, when the opportunity arises, we do the best we can."

He already knew this was the answer. Afterall, he had to study the curse thoroughly to get his status as a priest. He had just hoped that she had some way out of it, like she always had before.

They stood there in silence for a few minutes, both heavy in thought. The silence was only broken by the distant sound of footsteps. The guards would be there soon. Both now alert, they started to make their way down the steps, back into The Dial. They took alleyways and quiet streets, in an effort to remain unseen. They had reached the point where they needed to split, but a lingering question kept Merak from parting just yet.

Merak: "Do you really believe they're out there?"

She stopped for a moment and turned back to look her companion in the eye one last time before returning to her study and her duties.

Solar: "We have no other choice."