The Crystal Mines

29 Taury

We had decided during our second break, that it would be best to shift to our animal forms. I wasn't the safest route, but we had to move quicker through the mountains. We needed to reach the city before night fall. The slumlord kept his part on lockdown at night, ensuring his "merchandise" could be seen by good paying customers. Emyr spoke about his business, selling flesh at every corner. Pleasure to be heard and seen, tastes of every kind catered to. The poor worked all day in terrible conditions to find release at night, a cyclical fortune built by a disgusting leader.

She told us that he held so much power because the poor were so addicted to their lifestyle, that removing the man, would only cause a revolt from the people. The princess had looked down, embarrassed at the condition of her country. The rest of the city was clean and well managed. To change the subject, she had spoken about the festivals held for every Fae's sixteenth birthday. A coming of age as big as weddings. Each family member would give gifts and small tokens of Viatrix. Which meant decorated skulls in forms of jewelry and broaches. The mother was to give a gift from her own collection that she had received on her celebration.

I thought of the traditions of Ashburn while we ran as our animals through the last bit of the valley. The alternative was remembering the lynx Garren had made, nestled securely wrapped my shirt at the bottom of my bag. Emyr and Syphor shot down out of the sky, shifting before hitting the ground. How they managed that so smoothly was impressive. I found the pool in my magic system and touched it, causing me to shift back to Fae. Garren turned his face. I fished the clothes out of my bag and quickly threw them on while the others did the same.

We made out way to the end of the path on foot, stopping to see the view splayed before us. The city was massive. It sat in a bowl created by the mountains. Buildings climbed the slopes where the population grew beyond the borders of the depression. Unlike most cities, where the castle sat at the very center, Ashburn's jutted from the side of the largest mountain facing us. Spires and windows were sprinkled beyond the main palace, leaving us to guess how deep into the mountain the rooms within delved. With the city sparkling below, the castled looked like a crown. It took my breath away.

We began the decent into the city, taking the many steps down. The air coming from below, as twilight struck, was pregnant with music, laughter, and dogs barking. There was no system to streets. They seemed to go wherever there was room for one. I wasn't sure what they did for water since I didn't see a canal anywhere.

At the bottom of the long steps, there was no wall, no guards. All threats would come from the other side of the castle. The mountains served as natural protection, leaving most armies intimidated by the energy lost to even reach the city. Garren tapped my shoulder and pointed to the sky. Closer to the castle, just out of view, lanterns rose to the sky, adding to the allure. Ashburn was magical.

Our first few feet into the city left us watching and wondering. An Inn blasted with music and sound of glasses and people talking freely. A clothing store began taking apart a cart full of goods left outside to bring in for the night. Then, I felt drops on my arm and looked up. Rain began to mist down, light, like a feather soft kiss. From down here, I could see a thin layer of cloud sitting in the depression over the city. Three seasons in one area then. Emyr giggled at something Syphor said. He wiped his face, shocked at the rain as well.

"The mountains trap the clouds, and we get rain more than the forest beyond. Above the cloud, the temperature drops. Though I only fly just above it. Any further and it's freezing." Emyr explained. She bent over and ruffled a little boy's hair. He looked up with large brown eyes, face dirty from play. He pointed to his mouth wordlessly. He was hungry. Without hesitation, Emyr grabbed some jerky and handed to him. Snatching it, he shoved it into his mouth and ran barefoot down a street and disappeared. His hunger broke the spell Ashburn had cast on me.