Winter had deepened her icy grip on the land. Her cruel breath lashed the huddle of buildings that made up the village, buffeting them with ire born out of despair. All save one of the buildings was empty. All save one cared. The inn.
Within, the villagers had gathered once more to hear the old man speak of times long gone. Times long past.
"An age where magic was common place."
The old man paused to take a measure of the crowd, and was pleased to see no extra work would be required to ensnare this audience.
"But what happened to Clyra and Brenac?"
The old man smiled. No work at all.
"Ahh . . ."
* * *
A cold, dark shadow moved in the half-light surrounding the prone body. Shards of light, creeping through the cracks in the ruined wall, illuminated the body. The shapeless form had to be careful, as though it could survive in the half-light; the full streams of light would be its undoing.
The mirror on the wall was still glowing, casting off an ethereal glow, but was losing its power. Already the mirror was turning back to its natural state near the frame, glassy reflections of self. The surface rippled again and another figure was hurtled into the room. The shadow fled into a corner of the room, trusting the inky blackness to protect it.
The figure tumbled to the floor, rolled once and stopped. This one, however, shook itself after a while and pushed itself up. It looked around the room frantically, until it noticed the prone form in the centre.
"Clyra!"
Ahh, Clyra. These things like names to wrap themselves up in, but what to do?
Unable to come to a decision, the shadow slinked off.
* * *
It seemed to have taken an eternity, though Brenac passed through the portal instantaneously. It's what happened in that instant that took an eternity.
He tumbled into the room, rolling into a huddle on the floor. He shook himself, trying to clear his head of all the strange things he had witnessed on his journey. Realising where he had been and what he had done, he looked around the room, eyes darting frantically.
"Clyra!"
He rushed to the inert form of his companion shaking her desperately but she would not awake. He looked around in an effort to orient himself, until he located the portal. It was returning to its original mirror state. Even as he rushed towards it he knew it was futile. Even if he had reached the portal in time, how would he have kept it open?
He slammed into the mirror, smacking his fists against the unyielding glass. He let out a wail of frustration.
"Why Clyra? Why did you have to follow?"
He hung his head, unable to finish. He didn't expect an answer, but he got one all the same.
"Because she was every stubborn."
Brenac whirled around, trying to find the source of this melodious, sure voice. All he could see were pools of darkness formed by shafts of light.
"Show yourself," demanded Brenac, still searching.
Silence.
"As you wish."
From out of one of the pools stepped a man, long, untamed hair flowing behind him. Black as death. His grey eyes narrowed, they looked like the sea after a storm. They seemed somehow appropriate.
Brenac took a step back, mouth agape.
". . ."
"Come, come lad. We've know each other too long."
The man took a step forward; the shadows dropping from him like a cloak. It was easy to understand how one could have missed him at first glance. He wore an outfit made of some strange, black metal that moved and flowed even when the man was still. He wore nothing more than a shirt, pants and boots, yet he looked dangerous, Each step was clam and sure, each movement was calculated and concise.
"Well?"
Brenac still could not bring himself to speak. This made the man throw his head back and laugh, sending echoing peals of laughter bouncing off the walls.
"Let's take Clyra somewhere safe to recover first, shall we?"
The man stepped forward, but Brenac put himself between Clyra and the man. This brought a wry smile of amusement to the man's lips but he turned instead, walking through one of the arches leading out of the room. The smile had not touched his eyes.
"Safe from what?" asked Brenac, regaining his voice and looking around nervously.
The man was already half way through the arch, forcing Brenac to run to catch up. The corridor beyond the room seemed to be in better repair. For one thing it had none of the breaches the room had, and for another it had torches lining the walls. The strange man had one of the torches in his hands, and was walking casually to door at the other end of the corridor.
Brenac caught him up as he pushed the door open. He stood aside and indicated that Brenac should enter. He did so, and turned to see the man peer down the corridor as if checking for something.
"Safe from what?" Brenac asked again, as the man entered, closing the door behind him.
"This and that," replied the man cryptically.
"That's not very helpful Atik."
"Place Clyra on the bed," responded Atik, smiling, pointing at one corner of the room.
Looking at the corner indicated Brenac notices there is in fact a cot in this room. Realising he doesn't even know what this room is, he asks Atik.
"This is my study, one of the few safe places in the citadel."
Atik's words ring true, as the medium size room is sparsely furnished with a small cot and a desk. The walls can not be seen as they are covered by shelves, and on them all manner of strange books. Their spines are all the colours of the rainbow, some with fancy scrollwork and others plain and simple.
"Brenac!" said Atik sharply.
Brenac realises he has been standing in the middle of the room with Clyra in his arms. He carefully put her in the cot and turned to ask Atik a question . . . except Atik had left the room. Brenac was about to open the door they had came through when he heard-
"I wouldn't go wandering around in this place Brenac."
Atik had entered through a door opposite to the one they had originally entered the room through. Atik quickly closed the door behind him, and Brenac felt that Atik didn't want him to know what was beyond the door. In his hands he carried a tray with two pots of steaming broth, and a plate of cheese and bread.
"Please excuse the rough fare, but I don't often entertain guests. Once you have eaten and refreshed yourselves, I will send you back through the mirror."
"But -" started Brenac, wanting to point out Clyra was still unconscious.
"We aren't going back without you, husband."
Clyra rose a little from the cot, before the room started spinning. Brenac rushed to he side, but she brushed off his help. She pushed herself into a sitting position, her feet dangling over the cot.
"Of course. Once you have eaten and refreshed yourselves, we'll all go back through the mirror." Atik smiled as he said this, but there was no humour in his eyes. "Please," he continued, inclining his head towards the food, as he set it on the desk, "eat first."
Brenac didn't hesitate, and Clyra soon joined him at the desk. Neither bothered to sit as they dipped chunks of bread in the hot broth. Atik smiled, and turned to leave.
"Where are you going?" asked Clyra.
"To get some chains for you to take me back in," replied Atik smiling. When he didn't get a smile in return, he added, "I have a few things to attend to."
Atik exited through the southern entrance, the one that led back to the mirror. Brenac frowned at this, but resumed eating after a little while. Once the bread and cheese had been consumed, Brenac and Clyra sat themselves of the cot. The only other place to sit on would be the lone chair in front of the desk.
"How long have I been out?" quizzed Clyra.
"Not long. Five, maybe ten minutes."
"And has Atik told you anything."
"Very little, and all of it strange. He says that this room is one of the few safe ones in the citadel, yet he won't tell me what we are in danger from."
"That's Atik for you. Always full of riddles."
Clyra shook her head, and stood up to examine the books.
"He also said that we shouldn't wander around the place."
"He would."
Clyra picked up a volume and examined the cover. It didn't have a title, not one she could read.
"What are these?" asked Clyra, waving the book in her hand.
"How should I know?" responded Brenac, testily.
Clyra frowned, and put the book back. She then walked to the southern entrance and opened the door.
"Atik said we shouldn't go exploring," reminded Brenac.
"You such a coward Brenac."
"I didn't get us into this mess. Remember?"
Clyra ignored the snide remark and gazed down the corridor. It went on beyond her eyesight.
No use just hanging around here, she thought.
She started down the corridor, not caring whether Brenac followed or not. The curse she heard behind her indicated that Brenac had decided to follow. It was long until the got to a T-junction. Clyra stopped, and look through the archway.
"That's where we arrived," said Brenac. He pointed to the mirror, "That's what we came through."
"And is how we are going to get back."
Brenac just grunted.
They continued on, and after a while they passed a door that Clyra ignored. In fact, they passed four doors, until the came to the end of the torchlight. The corridor continued on into the darkness, but the last torch stood just beyond a door in front of which Clyra stood.
"Why this door?" asked Brenac.
"Atik has obviously been exploring. He started by making a base of operations, and worked his way down this end of the corridor. So this is more that likely the newest area of exploration."
Clyra opened the door, expecting to surprise Atik. However, the door opened up into a large hall. The hall was empty, except for the remains of what would have been a dining table or bench, a few chairs and a number of banners. At the far end of the hall was a large, ornate staircase leading down. The only lighted path led to the staircase. The recesses of the hall lay in darkness.
Clyra strode forward with Brenac in tow. She confidently alighted down the stairs, but stopped at the bottom. Brenac had to reign himself short to stop himself bumping into Clyra.
"What is it?"
Clyra simply pointed. The flight of stairs lead into a circular room, with Atik huddled over a strange device in the centre of the room. What took Clyra's breath away was that built into the walls were mirrors, just like the one they had arrived through. Except these ones were activated.
Shadowlords: Through the Portals continues the story of the Shadowlords. Clyra and Brenac discover the purpose of the portals, and Atik's plans . . .
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