The Crystal Mines

68 Nik

I itched everywhere. The grass came to our waists in some areas. Any taller, we avoided it. Though the plains were beautiful, my body hated the punishment the constant light beating it took from the brush, leaving tiny scrapes and cuts. Trife was at home in a place like this, diving through the wheat, weeds, and flowers like a fish. Rayze and Eliza took to playing with him as we pushed on, tossing him on gusts of magical wind he could ride until falling under the surface of the grass only to reemerge for more.

We could see across the waves of grass for miles to the Sieghild mountains. Evander held Faolan close as he mourned his small kingdom that rested behind the mountains to our left. Sieghild wasn't our destination. Ameer led us to a small break in the middle of the rage that was barely perceptible even with our fae eyesight. Although we could see any possibility of danger coming for us out in the open, we were still the most vulnerable we had been the entire journey. When we stopped for a late lunch of more berries and left-over meat, everyone had visibly grown more nervous. I dug a hole in the ground and pulled water forth from deep below for us to drink. I waved away any thanks and drank my fill along with them.

Faolan went fae still next to me and his ears twitched. Evander took note and one of his hands immediately went to the sword at his side. Rayze sniffed the air near Lilta and Rion put a fit in the air and a finger to his mouth, sensing what Faolan and Rayze had heard before anyone. Quickly and silently, we packed our things and slung our bags on. In seconds our weapons were ready, and we were circled in a defensive formation.

What is it? I asked Faolan.

I'm not sure. They smell fae, but there is something else too. Almost like the hounds.

I nodded and told Rion's mind. The silent word spread, and we braced ourselves. But what emerged from the grass in front of us was not a hound. It was a familiar hooded figure. A member of the Axion.

I lowered my weapon a little and made to take a step forward only to be roughly yanked back by Dath covered in snaking shadows. I ripped my arm from him, annoyed and ready to give him a tongue lashing. But stopped when the figured lowered his hood.

That's not The Axion. Rion's voice said to me.

No, it most certainly was not. Before us stood a creature I had no name for. He was built like a fae but smelled similar to the hounds. Not the scent of rotting flesh, but the nothingness that resides beneath the rot. His skin was tinged blue with a slight shimmer or glow. It was hard to tell in the sunlight. He was strangely beautiful which made him all the more frightening. The smile that split his face promised sensual kisses with death and sweet torture. I couldn't fight my shiver as he took single step forward, power embodied.

"So, these are the children that have defeated my pets." His low thin voice brushed against our ears on a whisp of wind. My hand fought nervously for a better grasp on the sword's pummel.

"I know you," Rion bit out from behind me. "I followed you in Salvare one night."

I recalled the night he spoke of. When he had accidently damned himself to our suspicions of his involvement with the false Axion. He followed this creature on his own? Rion was either far braver than I gave him credit for or had no sense of self preservation. I hoped for the first.

"I am not to harm my master's sons. He prefers to invoke his own punishments." The creature's head smoothly faced me. "Now tell me how nineteen mere fledglings were able to defeat my hounds."

I choose to remain silent, letting him play into his own hand. He didn't miss my intentions and offered another one of his sly smiles splay across his features.