Shadows of the Forgotten Realms

10

When the moon illuminated the area, Narina was on the edge of a small lake. She removed her shoes, pants, and top, then took a few steps into the lake. The water was soothingly cool. She submerged herself entirely and swam deeper. She spread her arms, drifting on the surface. The sounds of nature accompanied her thoughts. She regretted not having Caelia with her. She knew even Caelia would abandon her books for this moment of respite. Besides her underwear, she wore only belts with daggers strapped to her thighs. She never parted with all of her blades. She extended her arms in front of her, admiring the tattoos winding on them. They were Einar's work.

He had made them during a month of storms that had plagued the area around their monastery, locking them all in one place. Each of them had used this time in their own way.

Narina had long admired the tattoos decorating Einar's body. You couldn't see many of them at first glance. It was only when he took off his shirt that the masterpiece was revealed. He never revealed who had done them for him. Or what they meant. Just as she hadn't revealed hers. She only told him what she expected, what she wanted to be included, and he fulfilled her request.

While she lay there, getting pricked with a needle and ink, Asel was practicing martial arts with Vaelen. Zephyr was reading books that Caelia had been providing for a long time, and she herself had sequestered herself in her room, weighing potions. Isleen, on the other hand, had found paint in the depths of the monastery. Vaelen and Zephyr were forced to create a loom, and Asel had to find the material. Narina and Einar had peace until Isleen barged into her room and demanded that they pose for her. They spent half a day in positions enforced by her, trying not to move too much, as she made serious threats.

Three weeks later, they all stood expectantly in front of the closed doors of the office, from which each of them had the opportunity to benefit. It was the largest room in the monastery, serving practically everything. There were even times when they slept there. Isleen stood in front of them, swinging the door wide open. They entered, and when they looked to the right, they saw a picture. No, not a picture, a masterpiece. Narina still remembered the shock that accompanied this event. They all fell silent, and Isleen led Vaelen to the framed picture. She took him by the hand and placed it at the edge of the picture.

"Feel and smell it," it wasn't until then that Narina realized that Isleen hadn't just painted, but also stitched, embroidered, and sprayed each of them with a different scent. A scent that had always been with them. She did it for Vaelen.

She did it for all of them.

The picture depicted all of them. The background was black with elements of red and gold. In the center stood three thrones. On the left throne sat Caelia, dressed in a dark brown gown with a vial in her hand. With a determined expression, she gazed into the distance, and on her head was a crown of tiny pink lily flowers. Next to her, leaning on the throne, was Asel, dressed in his best black and red pirate outfit. He had one hand hanging over the throne, but in the other, he held a sickle. On his head, he wore a hat with a red lily in the center. Vaelen sat on the right throne. He was relaxed but ready to attack at any moment. He had a blindfold and a crown of gray lilies on his head. A silver sword lay on his lap. On the other side of Vaelen's throne stood Isleen, in a blue and white dress. One hand rested on the throne, but in the other, she held a spear that reached from the floor to her collarbone. Her expression indicated trouble. On her head, she wore a crown of white lilies.

Between the thrones stood Einar and Zephyr. The second man stood on Caelia's left side, without either hand resting on the throne. Both hands held an ax. Einar, on the other hand, stood with his arms crossed on his chest.

In the middle throne sat Narina. She was dressed in a black-green outfit, which had become her everyday attire. She sat up straight with her hands clenched on the dagger hilts. Her head was slightly tilted to one side, and her loose hair reached her chest. Her eyes expressed gravity, but there was a slight inviting smile on her face. She wore golden lilies on her head. Many times later, Narina would come to this room to look at the painting. Not just her, but all of them.