Lights in the Darkness

Essence

Haravan let out a loud sigh “Where” his voice filled with agitation

Prowler walked over and petted one of the horse “The Crystal Mountains”

“Why the Crystals, I could be anywhere else and I’d be fine!” Haravan pulled another flask out from one of the packs.

            “Don’t grumble; it could be worse.” Prowler said lifting that pack with a groan and walking towards the gate now almost all replaced.

            “How?” Haravan said following

            “Remember when we had the one that was under that lake?”

            Haravan sighed. “Hopefully this one doesn’t turn out to be the size of a thimble”. Prowler let out a laugh,

“Macka said she had to go get some things she’s in the armory. As he said this Prowler turned and started to head into the guild. “No you don’t lad!” said Haravan grabbing him. 

            “I have to unload them?” Prowler said sighing.

            “Punishment for being late,” Haravan said as he walked towards the Guild

Haravan thought of the Crystal Mountains as he walked through the almost empty bar of the Guild.  Tall and cold above the ground with snow that shimmers in the sun all year round. Awful place he thought to himself. 

            He reached the bottom floor of the Guild and opened the large iron door to the armory.

            The armory was a long room the walls filled with all sorts of weapons that were common and others that Haravan hadn’t even seen before. “Macka?” he called.  There wasn’t a response. He set off looking towards the back of the room.  As he turned a corner he saw a small corridor leading off the room. 

            Haravan could see that the room had a wall of what looked like liquid gold “Oh no not again.”

            Haravan rushed down the hall as faster than any other dwarf had ever moved. As he reached the room he saw her sitting in a chair facing away from him “Macka!” He yelled

            She jumped and dropped a vial filled with the golden liquid. As it hit the ground it burst but the liquid scattered into droplets spreading slowly rising through the air. “Haravan! What did you do that for! I needed that!.” She tried to grasp at the droplets as they hovered there, but they continued to slip through her fingers. Haravan simple stood there as she fell to her knees tears running down her face.

            Haravan  reached into his left boot and pulled out a flask. “Come now lass drink a lil bit of this it’ll help yea.” She took the flask reluctantly and drank a big gulp. “You don’t need essence lass, its mighty dangerous.”

            “yes I do,” she whispered softly her eyes falling to the ground.

Haravan took her hand and slowly pulled off her glove. In the center of her hand she had a stone set in that was covered with runes and magic sigils. “mighty magic you’ve got here, I thought you promised Prowler that you would stop using these.”

            “Magic sigils are hard to quit using and I need the essence to make them work,” She said softly “but there power I need,”

            Haravan didn’t say anything back and the two simple stood there for a moment, Macka unable to make eyes contact with him. “You won’t tell him will you?”

“No lass I won’t, but you should before he finds out, danger is all that comes from Essence,” Haravan reached into his other boot and pulled out another flask. “Have I ever told you the story of  a mage and a young boy?”

Macka took another warming sip from the flask and shook her head.

“Once there was a mage not to long after the fall of magic who was traveling with his young son, while they were traveling he took a shot of essence and got his magic back if only for a little bit. Only seconds later in the surge of magic through his veins he fired lighting from his hands, striking his young son killing him instantly.” Haravan looked sad and took another sip from his flask.

“I won’t let that happen, and I’m doing this to help protect us.”

“so was the mage, he had heard at the last inn that bandits were on the road ahead so he took it to protect his son.” Haravan held the glove out to Macka, “Come on lass lets go he’ll get suspicious soon” He took her hand and pulled her up.

“Thanks for the drink Haravan,” Macka said handing him back the flask.

“Well it was just a loan, you’re buying me the best stuff next time we get to a good tavern! Macka smiled at the dwarf and followed him up and out of the armory.

“ Took you two long enough, ready to go?” Prowler asked leaning against three packs.

“Yea lets go” Macka said grabbing the smallest pack, and running off into the distance.