The Easel Chronicles; The Burning Hands

Chapter Twenty Three

Chapter Twenty-Three

Aravoen and Mindacil waited at the side of the citadel not wanting to be seen. They had just moved through the citadel of Cardamon avoiding the large number of sentries.

"These Neerans are fierce," Mindacil whispered, "I think we should fear them and their weapons."

"You'd be foolish not to Mindacil," Aravoen breathed back.

As far as Aravoen could tell they were at the eastern side of the citadel. The ancient stones of Cardamon stared at them in the dim light of the lit torches along the streets. The mysterious ally had told Aravoen where to be that night, earlier on in the night as Mael wined and dined them.

"This is it," Aravoen said silently, as they stopped near the meeting of the eastern and southern walls of the citadel. A sentry stood along the battlements, his golden armor gleaming in the darkness above their heads. Aravoen could hear him noisily chewing on a stalk as he looked over their heads.

"What's he staring at?" Mindacil asked him in a low tone.

"I have no idea my friend," Aravoen replied. "None what so ever."

They waited together in silence, holding their swords tensely. They knew their position was rather dangerous. After a short while, a dark shadow started making its way towards them.

At first they thought it was an illusion but as it drew nearer to them, their fears were drawn. Aravoen gripped Handria's pommel tightly ready to draw it at the first sign of animosity from the shadow. He heard the soft whisper of Mindacil drawing an arrow and aiming at the shadow as it made its progress.

Calm yourselves master Aravoen, the presence in his mind said.

You?

"Yes it is I," the shadow turned out to be a hooded lady. Her face was hidden by the cowl of the dark hooded cloak she had over her slight body. "Now relax your blades and arrows, save them for the enemies that matter."

"Are you saying you're an enemy?" Aravoen asked in a low tone as the sentry above them shifted.

"Neither friend nor foe yet," she replied.

"Please may we be on our way," Mindacil muffled near them.

"Very well elf." The lady said.

"Before we go," Aravoen held Mindacil's hand, "who are you? You say you're the sibling of those that denied us help."

"I'm the bastard of that family," she whispered. Aravoen noticed the hidden frustration and anger behind that statement. Are all people of Neera this bitter? The lady went on, "Our father hid me from them up until a few years ago, some time before he went on his death mission. My brother Mael considers me unpredictable and thus tries to keep me out of the public eye."

"Something that he clearly failed at," Aravoen said letting go of Mindacil. "Very well we can go as you tell us that story."

"I will not tell you that story my lords."

"Why?" Mindacil asked.

"I trust no one," she replied. "few know of my true heritage and few know of my hate for Mael and his motives."

"Tell us your name then," Mindacil said.

"I am Sybilla," she said grabbing Aravoen's hands. "We should be on our way. We have four hours at most before Mael's guards sound the alarm of your absence. He'll know I helped you and will come looking for us."