Dusk approached the remote village of Faraway, but not a soul who resided there could have known it would be the last it ever saw. A door between worlds was set to reopen and with fire and chaos the world of Morrigar would return to a reality it had long forgotten.

  The hour had grown late as a caravan arrived at the village outskirts. A tiring week long trip from the western border with nothing but bumps, heat and tedium to keep the travellers company was now mercifully over.

  Faraway was a quaint little village, small, unassuming. Deep to the south it was nestled in the woodlands separating the Tevestra plains and the Sharvy river and was about as far from civilization and the northern capital as you could get. So it was all the more surprising when they were halted on the outskirts by the unmistakable golden mauve armor of a capital soldier. His company right by his side.

  Hand resting firmly on the similarly golden mauve hilt of his broadsword the soldier looked as if expecting an event as he approached the head of the caravan.

  “State your business.” the soldier demanded with the tone and authority expected of a royal soldier from the capital.

  “P-produce and passengers from Garvin sir. We-we’re a regular trip.” the coachman stammered his response having not expected such a reception from a place like this.

  The soldier looked down the caravan and motioned for his subordinates to search them. They did not wear the same golden muave as their leader, instead dull metallic greys with a griffons head in white, the nations symbol, blazoned on their breastplates marked that of the regular army.

  “Your caravan looks light old man.” indicating the procession.

  The coachman, having recovered from the initial shock, was quite miffed at that remark. He wasn’t old yet and he didn’t need reminding that the caravan was half the size it was a month ago but he didn’t dare express as much openly.

  “It’s the rumors, that war is coming from the south. Is it true? Is Zargania going to invade again?” the coachman ventured, looking for any hint to the nature of their delay.

  “It’s best you take no heed to those rumors old man, our borders are secure. Woran is safe.”

  Carriage after carriage, goods and produce were rummaged through and travellers interrogated some of whom made little attempt to hide their displeasure. One of the last carriage’s to be searched housed a lone young woman. Tucking a braid of hair, streaked with green and brown, behind a pointed ear and letting it drop half way down her back she listened nervously as each carriage was inspected. With skin a glistening mint green she was a typical Woran fae in a caravan full of typical Woran fae. She did not stand out and that was exactly what she wanted but still she grasped her leather pouch as a soldier approached and opened her carriage’s door.

  “Who are you and what’s your business here?” he demanded gruffly and impatiently, his free hand cradling the sheath of his sword.

  “My name is Miyah Regala. I am visiting family.” She lied. She had no family in Faraway. She had no family anywhere.

  Miyah put a lot of effort into the genuinity of that lie, of the feigned shock of their presence and faint indignation of the prying of her personal life. She need not have worried for as much show as they gave to their search, they gave much less attention to the task itself as if the soldier had he would have surely found something of note on her person.

  Satisfied with the response and glancing over the otherwise empty carriage the soldier quickly moved on and soon enough the search concluded and the caravan was motioned onwards. Nothing of value was found, most certainly from lack of trying.

  The carriage shook as it went underway which caused Miyah to start. After a moment of shock she sighed in relief. Easing the grip on her pouch she rubbed her now shaking arms trying to bring them under control. That was too close, and too sloppy on her part. In fact she should not have used her real name in hindsight but she had been too flustered and had not expected soldiers all the way down this far south. Did they know? Or was what the coachman said about Zargania true? Either way it was quickly appearing that she would not have the same luxury of time she enjoyed in Garvin, she would need to conduct her business in Faraway quickly and leave.

  Entering the village proper the caravan rolled towards the towns market. The bustle of the end of day patrons was subsiding, stalls were closing and townsfolk were leaving to either home or the local tavern. She could do with some food but that earlier scare had her on edge. She needed to make contact as soon as possible.

  At the edge of the market the caravan came to a stop. Merchants eager for their scheduled wares rushed forth pulling down crates of goods and higher quality northern merchandise. Fresh Woran fruits and vegetables of dazzling greens and teals as well as selections of more exotic Rozanti produce of striking orange were offloaded as travellers begun to disembark. Hugging her leather pouch close Miyah too disembarked.

  Dropping to the ground, mud splashed up her shins and branded new additions to her already stained leggings. She looked down with mild annoyance. Dressed for travel her light and rugged clothing had already seen plenty of abuse in the past six months. As best as she tried to keep them clean and presentable she would need to replace them eventually. If only the coin in her purse agreed.

  Besides the clothing on her back, the coin purse on her hip and a knapsack the only other notable accessory she featured was her leather pouch. The pouch itself was unexceptional and like her clothing had seen their fair share of wear and tear. What was of value however was what was inside. The chronicles of the journey she embarked on six months ago and everything she had learnt on the way were contained in the books and scrolls stored inside. They were invaluable beyond measure for what was contained in their pages could change the world.

  Her grip tightening once again, as if the books and scrolls would jump out and run away taking their invaluable contents with them, she surveyed her surroundings. Darkness was well and truly overhead, the final rays of sun faded away behind the treeline, replaced by the street lamps currently in the process of being lit and the moon which stood full and tall in the nights sky.

  “You’re late Foroneer.” a merchant snapped. “The day’s over. I needed those wares before the sun fell, not after.” he was addressing the caravan master who was overseeing the goods being unloaded.

  “I swear, your welcoming committee stopped us for hours!” Foroneer protested.

  “Oh don’t give me that, I saw you arrive from here. They were done in moments just like everyone else. No, you slept in again didn’t you.” He stated pointedly. It was true, he had slept well past sunrise to the caravans great annoyance. “You saw what they do. For weeks they’ve done nothing but make a nuisance of themselves. I bet they don’t even know why they’re even here.”

  I hope that’s true. Miyah thought as she pulled the hood of her cloak over her head, shrouding her face and turning to disappear deeper into the village.

  * * *

  What she sought had not been hard to find. The village was relatively small and the directions she had been given inexplicably precise but even so there was a distinctiveness to the single story cottage on the hill she found herself before.

  There should not have been anything distinctive about the small cottage. It was made of wood like any other, with windowed holes like any other and a thatched roof like any other. The path leading from the road was as plain as the cottage itself with modest grassing to either side and yet...

  Miyah couldn’t put her finger on exactly why but the lonely cottage had an air of seclusion to it. Like the shutters were closed a hair too tight or the light within emanated just a shade too dim. If you weren’t looking for the tell tale signs it would be indistinguishable to any of the other nearby homes and yet Miyah could sense a desire for solitude cloak the dwelling. Miyah took this as a good sign as those she sought would want seclusion, and for good reason.

  Taking a deep breath, the anticipation palpable, she strode up the path and approached the front door but before she had an opportunity to knock the door slowly arced open. Miyah almost jumped as a pair of eyes, barely visible in the moonlight, shifted up and down the street.

  “Were you followed?” the eyes asked down to her in a deep voice.

  “No?” she replied, nervously looking back the way she came as if the very question robbed her of her confidence.

  “Come in, quickly.” the eyes insisted, the door opening up just enough to allow her passage.

  Miyah hesitated. She never told a soul of her travel destinations, not that there was anyone to confide in, and yet she had been expected. How could that be? Had the chapter in Garvin somehow managed to send word ahead of her? Or perhaps she had been followed as the eyes implied. A growing fear tugged at her, had she waded too deep into forbidden shores? Would the waves of her own curiosity drown her? But she had travelled so far, and had so many questions. If she let nerves get the best of her now and turn away her journey here would have been for nought. She knew that was not an option. Since discovering these people her quest had accelerated and she wouldn’t let it falter here over a few nerves. Burying her anxiety she stepped through the door.

  The interior of the cottage was as dull and unassuming as the exterior had been. A living room lay before her, a table and set of chairs for two sat in the middle with a large rug spread across the wooden floor. A fire place burned on the far wall emanating light and warmth across the room. A kitchen area lay to the side with the usual assortment of herbs and utensils.

  The door closed softly behind her, the doorman having surveyed the street one last time for any followers before being satisfied. In the light of the fire Miyah could now see clearly the one who had greeted her. Craning her head to make eye contact she had not realized how tall the man was, nor had she seen the unassuming violet of his eyes, two shades lighter than her own, or recognized his dark olivine complexion.

  “We were expecting you.” The man said, as if that answered any of the questions swimming in her head. “Please leave your queries for the pastor and follow me.” He was certainly intent on getting in his word before Miyah but by his own admission he was not the one she was here to see so she followed as he lead her towards the back of the room and to a column of shelves.

  Spying a series of nameless tomes Miyah’s excitement was pricked at the prospect of what they may contain but the doorman passed them by, instead pushing the shelving aside to reveal the plain wall behind. Miyah looked quizically at the empty space knowing there must be something more to this act than she could understand but that was not for her eyes to see.

  “Stand aside please.” the doorman motioned away from where Miyah currently stood and she obliged as he fumbled for something out of her view.

  He quickly located what he sought and a subtle crack echoed from where she had stood followed by a slow groaning creak as a hidden trap door opened revealing a hidden shaft complete with ladder leading downward.

  This was not a surprise to Miyah. She knew what the people here worshipped and more importantly why their veneration must be kept secret from the world. It was much the same why she kept her travels and activities secret. Even a hint of what either party did, or more importantly knew, would bring the authorities running with swords drawn, she had seen it before.

  Gesturing to the ladder the doorman motioned for Miyah to descend which she did with a fair share of trepidation and anticipation. As she descended the trap door closed behind her. A lump formed in Miyah’s throat. The doorman was not following and had instead trapped her inside but there was light below at the bottom of the ladder, there must be people below, those that were expecteding her.

  Reaching the final rung Miyah found herself in a secret cellar dug out of the ground under the cottage, only a handful of wooden struts kept the ceiling from collapsing in. It was not the work of a craftsman. Far from a large room the small enclosure barely had the space to support a gathering of a dozen people and even at that it would be a cramped fit, but Miyah doubted it ever saw so many.

  Lining the room were makeshift prayer benches of wood and dirt surrounding a lone stone pedestal. Eerie shadows flickered and danced across the room from dozens of candles spread throughout, the light of which illuminated the seven faces staring at her.

  Ages varying from young to old, strong to frail, the coven watched her with intent. Of them five sat evenly spaced along the walls of the cellar taking in the new arrival, some with expressions of curiosity, others with concern and the remaining with animosity.

  At the centre of the gathering, standing on the pedestal, which Miyah presumed would usually be used by the chapters pastor for sermons and prayers, was a thin middle aged man with vibrant green skin and equally vibrant, albeit receding, hair. With him a young girl in her later teenage years, not much younger than Miyah herself, stood by his side. Her face gave a mixed impression of interest and uncertainty.

  This was it, Miyah was standing in the Faraway chapter’s sanctuary for the worshippers of the saviours. Since learning of the religious group in Garvin many of the questions that had started her journey had begun to be answered and many holes in her knowledge and theories begun to be filled.

  It had been a fruitful relationship once she made contact with the Garvin chapter. Despite the mutual need for secrecy they had welcomed her with great eagerness once she proved her worth. Knowledge flowed freely between them as despite the worshippers deep understanding of their limited lore there was much she herself knew that they did not. The worshippers would interpret Miyah’s findings in whatever way suited their religious beliefs and in return they would tell her what they knew in turn helping her piece together the truth of the fae’s long lost history.

  Yet with each piece of knowledge, with each piece of understanding and revelation more questions arose and the religious groups knowledge was not infinite. Eventually there was no more knowledge for either party to impart. It was then Miyah learnt that the worshippers in Garvin were not the only ones of their ilk. She learnt there were other covens across the country and in nations afar that had their own sets of knowledge with emissaries travelling between them to exchange any new findings.

  The Garvin chapter was hesitant to reveal where other chapters resided. In part because secrecy was paramount and in part because they themselves did not know their brethren’s exact locations for if the crown, and its network of agents working ever tirelessly to snuff out the knowledge they so revered, ever learnt of them it would bring doom to them all.

  But eventually their leader relented one location he was privy to and believed would be most beneficial to both Miyah and themselves. Faraway.

  She had left the very next morning for a caravan was set to depart before noon. The timing felt like fate all the more because as revealed one of the ruins, the sources for all her knowledge of the fae’s lost history, lay near the village buried, waiting to be rediscovered.

  That had been a week ago and at long last she found herself before the Faraway chapter, eager to continue where she left off.

  In the Faraway sanctuary, a safe place for the worshippers to prey and practice their beliefs without fear or impunity, the chapter members continued to stare, a growing sense of hostility filled the air much unlike her reception at Garvin.

  From the looks of the group they had gathered in a hurry as some wore nightgowns evidently interrupted just before retiring for the night. Others more, including a merchant Miyah recognized from the market, had yet to change from work clothes covered in the days grime. One by one they looked back to the man on the pedestal, they looked upon him with an air of reverence and the silence grew as they patiently waited for him to respond to the newcomer. There was little doubt this was the pastor the doorman spoke of and the leader of this chapter.

  “The hour is late and you come at troubling times young lady.” he spoke with a level of grandiosity meant to awe and inspire and with a wave he beckoning her closer and she obliged, not that she had far to travel in the small refuge.

  “I apologize for the late hour. My caravan was...delayed,” she left out the unnecessary nature of why, “it could not be helped. She straightened out as she introduced herself proper. “My name is Miyah Regala and I believe we can help each other in our mutual beliefs.”

  “My name is Talaram Seletha, this is my daughter Chia, and this is the Faraway chapter of the worshippers of the saviours as you are no doubt well aware.”

  “Yes.” she looked around the room, they had been in the middle of deep discussion and given their attire it had not been a scheduled meeting. “The man who greeted me said you were expecting me?” she asked hesitantly.

  “Indeed we were.” there was a note of foreboding in his voice.

  “How? Those from Garvin said they had no means of communicating directly and even if they did they could not have sent word so quickly.”

  “We may be a remote village far from the capital but word does reach our ears Miyah Regala, particularly any word that regards our divine shrines. Your activities in Garvin were not the first we’ve heard of you.” They knew of her excursions to the shurilin ruins, if those from Garvin had known as well they had not let on. Miyah’s eyes darted across the room, the groups gaze was still locked on Talaram who was locked on her. She gave a dry swallow that lodged in her throat. What else did he know? No one should have known of her excursions to the shurilin ruins. She passed every guard unseen, left no trace behind, or so she thought.

  “So you know why I am here.” she mustered the courage to continue.

  “I can postulate as much.” His prose was flowery, it made him sound pompous but Miyah dared not state as much. She may not share their beliefs, her own experiences had provided plenty of evidence to their fictitiousness but she needed their help all the same. And beyond that to say as much would be unbecoming and rude.

  “You seek a guide to the divine shrines.” It was no real surprise he could guess as much given what he’d shown to already know of her, as concerning as that was. Given the sensitive nature of the ruins she had wanted to ease into this request over time, grow a rapport with them before asking something so religiously significant as an outsider trespassing on holy ground. But between Talaram’s intuition and the threat of the royal guard there was no point delaying this conversation.

  “Yes, that is true. I do seek to travelling to the shu- divine shrines,” she corrected, “seeking the stories they hold. I have learnt much about the history within, but not enough. In those ruins, destroyed and desecrated centuries ago there is not much left but I have been able to piece together stories ranging from the fall of Shastice and rise of Woran to the legend of the dragons and their link with the saviours themselves. I can share these stories with you as I have others of your following.”

  “The legend of the dragons is known well enough to us, they were a plague and the saviours cast them from our lands so that we may prosper. It’s why we revere them so and can not fathom why our fellow fae would cast away their memory.”

  “In that we agree. Yes, the dragons have been gone for centuries, the saviours banished them from our world, that story should be celebrated but instead it is hidden from the world, unjustly and maliciously.” Miyah knew all too well by now of this. Her excursions to the shurilin ruins told of fire breathing beasts that would massacre fae across the lands. Their terror would come and go with decade long gaps until one day they never returned.

  The fae celebrated and prospered in their absence, no one mourned their unexplained disappearance but as time passed their history became legend and then later myth until finally knowledge of their very existence grew so rare it transformed into crime. Knowledge of the dragons was all but gone in the world but Miyah wanted to learn the truth of why they did what they did, why they continually disappeared and why they one day never returned.

  This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  “And you wish to spread the word of our lost history? Enlighten the world of their ignorance?” Talaram asked.

  “I wish to share with you what I learn so that you may spread the word, in return for guidance to the shrine.”

  “And when did you expect us to reveal the divine shrines location to you?” he asked in a manner that made Miyah uncomfortable.

  “Ideally as soon as possible.”

  “Why do you lack patience?” the question was sudden and unexpected. A complete twist on where the conversation had been heading.

  Why did she lack patience? What kind of question even was that? But now that she thought of it she had travelled from ruin to ruin with a haste she assumed to be great eagerness. Could there be another reason she herself didn’t understand? Was she being impatient?

  “Let’s just say I’m making up for lost time.” she replied, it was a sombre truth.

  “Lost time.” he scoffed. “Tell me. Do you think yourself clever? Elusive?” he didn’t give her a chance to respond. “You court chaos with your flagrant disregard for subtlety.”

  The mood soured ominously as the other members gaze returned to her and watched intently for how she would react.

  “I don’t understand what you mean.”

  “There have been murmurs of one entering the divine shrines across the kingdom. Although cloaked, seeing you now before me gives me no doubt of who they had seen. Be warned Miyah Regala. The Woran guard seek you out for your transgressions, of that I am certain.”

  The Woran guard were on to her? Impossible. She had been careful, planned her routes, checked every turn. There was a close call near Quebel but nothing came of it, she had made it away clean. No, Talaram was trying to scare her but why? He only stood to gain from their collaboration, why would he sabotage an opportunity he already knew the Garvin chapter benefited from.

  But then again, what of the capital soldier on the outskirts of the village? Surely if they were here for her they would have arrested her then and there. Even if they suspected someone of entering the shurilin ruins they didn’t suspect her and she felt reassured at that.

  “If that were true why was I allowed through the village?” Miyah challenged.

  Talaram had no response. He was looking for one, his face was stone but she could see it in his eyes. He did not reply.

  “I can offer you much for any risk you feel is present.” Miyah offered. “For example did you know that the dragons would leave for years, decades even at a time before returning and massacring the fae?” Talaram tilted his head, he had not known this then. Miyah kept pushing. “How about the futile armed resistances the fae mounted against them?”

  “Of course our ancestors defended themselves.”

  “But do you know how? Do you know of the armies they raised? The unlikely alliances forged against a common enemy? And yet despite those vast armies they still routinely fell to the might of the dragons.”

  He did not. Miyah pushed the advantage, if this did not convince him then...

  “Did you know that dragons drank fae blood like wine?” there were horrified murmurs amongst the group.

  The truth was that Miyah was putting on a little show of her own. Spinning up and exaggerating what she knew to gain favor. Her notes were a patchwork of unrelated exerts and passages she had gleaned from what had survived in the ruins. She did not know if what she read about fae blood was figurative, literal or a misinterpretation but if playing Talaram’s game by adding some theatrics helped convince him and his coven then so be it. Thankfully it was working.

  “Those are incredibly enlightening revelations.” Talaram finally said once the murmurs had died down. She had him.

  “Look! Everything I know is here.” She opened the pouch and went to pull out one of her books. This was her fatal mistake.

  Talaram’s eyes widened in shock and fury. “Your foolishness exposes your ignorance!” he admonished, pushing away the pouch. “By your own hands your own guilt is written in those very pages. Forbidden knowledge of such quantity, how will you explain that away when you are seized? There would be no question on how you learnt what you have and you know as well as we what punishment you will receive.”

  She knew all too well having witnessed it first hand herself. Yet that had not deterred her, quite the opposite in fact, it had been an awakening.

  “I thought you would want this, to help me help you understand more of the divine shrines, of the saviours.” Miyah tried reasoning with him but everything was fast spiralling out of hand. The Garvin chapter had not been this hard to convince, sure they had been initially apprehensive but they quickly came around once they recognized what they had to gain. Not like Talaram who stubbornly clung to fears and hypocrisy as if their very movement would not bring the ire of the crown as long as they stayed silent. In a way they were in their own way ignorant, unwilling to take the risk to gain the very knowledge they so desperately sought. She needed to convince them of her worth if she had any chance of learning the location of the shurilin ruin from them.

  “Do not mistake me. I do not disapprove of your actions, what you say is true. It is unjust and malicious what is done to the memory of the saviours. What I do disapprove of is your reckless methods...and your suspect motives.”

  Suspect motives? Did he think she was some kind of spy for the king? Surely not as if he had he wouldn’t be speaking as openly to her as she was now.

  “I only want to know the truth.” she spoke from the heart.

  “Why?”

  “I...” she paused. Miyah knew why, she knew what drove this pursuit of the truth but it always came off as a selfish excuse when she thought of it. She had always been a curious girl, especially when she was younger. Always wanting an answer to every question, an explanation to every conundrum. Her parents had encouraged it even if her curiosity lead to trouble. But it never ceased and her horizons quickly broadened beyond her quaint riverside town to the kingdoms beyond their own.

  That was until one nightmarish night one of those kingdoms she had wished to know so much about came to her. Orphaned and alone she no longer wanted to know of the world that had taken away so much. That curiosity of hers was gone, replaced by a fear of the unknown, which is where it had remained for many years.

  “Curiosity for curiosities sake. Curiosity with no purpose. Curiosity with no goal once answered and no thought to the dangers to yourself or others that such revelations will bring.” Talaram said, eyeing her down as if piercing her very reason for being. “No. If you were anyone else I would happily welcome you to my home and our faith but your curiosity brings great danger to us and this I can not allow.”

  “Why not?” a thin man wearing a frail night gown sitting huddled in a corner interjected. “She has revealed so much already. Imagine what more lost history we could learn.”

  “I agree Talaram. Take her to to shrine like the other chapter did. Let her reveal its secrets, we so rarely make the pilgrimage these days.” another of Talaram’s congress said. Finally, some allies.

  “And if her capture leads them to us?” Talaram hissed. “I will not risk us in such a way.”

  “How can we hope to expand the faith if we have nothing to show?” the man in the corner spoke again. “Most fae are faithless and need evidence” he waved away at the word as if a bothersome inconvenience, “to make up their minds and we have nought beyond the word itself for such people.”

  “But can we be sure her words are truth and not fantasy? That her aim is not to deceive us with promises too good to be true?” a younger man called out, his eyes trained on Miyah with suspicion.

  “I do not have reason to believe her words are false.” Talaram interjected, his defence unexpected.

  “I am not in favor of this.” a woman spoke up this time. “Written material is forbidden for a reason! If anyone outside our faith discovered them...”

  “You’re never in favor of anything outside your comfort Flaria.” the first man shot back. “Talaram, this refuge already paints a dire picture, what more harm can a…”

  “No!” Talaram bellowed in a display unbecoming. Everyone lurched back at the sudden outburst. “No.” he repeated again softly, regaining his composure but failing to hide his shame at the outburst. “I speak for the faith of Faraway and as Flaria has attested, we can not have anything written. It only gives the authorities something to find.”

  The congress seemed to shrink at the reminder of that unfortunate truth. All the worshippers of the saviours Miyah had met had said the same and she knew it to be true. It was why they committed everything to memory, as unreliable as that could be. If the authorities found anything relating to the forbidden ruins, summary execution was the only result. No hearing, no fair trial, such was the gravity of breaking the laws of entering the shurilin ruins and learning their secrets. And worse still the population championed it for everyone knew how evil those places were, even if they had long since forgotten why.

  Having regained control of the conversation Talaram turned his attention back to Miyah who held her breath dreading what was coming next. “I am sorry, you have travelled far I know, but the protection and safety of our faith is my responsibility, satiating your curiosity is not, no matter how it may benefit us. What is the point in all the knowledge you wish to share if tomorrow there is no one left to share it.”

  “But I’ve been careful.”

  “If you had been careful, I would not have known of your coming.” Talaram seemed to hesitate as if ready to say something but unsure if it was the right thing to do. That struggle did not last long. “Everything that you could say has been said but I will not be swayed. This chapters safety and continued existence trumps all and to those ends I must now ask you to leave, but…I do wish you luck in your quest.”

  Miyah was dumbfounded. Talaram was a damned hypocrite to wish her luck yet withhold the very help she needed to achieve her goals and it was all she could do to stop from yelling it in his face.

  Looking to the members of the coven Miyah looked for her allies. Some members sat with heads held high evidently pleased with the decision their leader took while others looked low shaking their heads, but all avoided her gaze. Even the girl Chia averted her eyes when Miyah looked. There were no more allies here.

  Back at the end of the path linking the cottage to the street Miyah resisted the urge to scream. She could not believe how poorly that went. She had almost had him convinced but the religious zealot just had to be stubborn and scared and...

  She stopped. Frustration and tiredness drained her strength and hunger too lapped at her stomach. She was not thinking straight and was taking the rejection too personally. Could she really blame him for wanting to protect his people, especially his daughter? She may not like his decision and the setback it posed for her but it wasn’t unreasonable. And a setback only it was. She’d found ruins before with nothing more than her own skill, cunning and intuition, she would do so again. But it would take time, time she may not have.

  Miyah had told the soldier at the village outskirts she was visiting family. Her expectation was that Talaram would provide lodging, like what was offered to her in Garvin, and act the part of distant family but that was no longer an option and if those soldiers remain, sooner or later someone was going to notice her on her own.

  Could she start the search tonight? The hour grew ever later and she needed the daylight sun to get the lay of the land in this foreign village. And if that was not reason enough a hollow grumble came from deep within her belly.

  “I suppose that answers that.” she sighed in resignation. As eager and increasingly desperate as she was to start, with no leads on where to begin looking and an empty stomach sapping her strength she had to resign herself to pacing the search and retire for the night so she headed in the direction of the marketplace in search of the local tavern in a quick and purposeful pace.

  She did not get far before the taps and squelches of muddy footsteps sounded behind her. Miyah spun around, a fear gripping her as Talaram’s words suddenly echoed in her mind. But it was not a soldier sent to apprehend her that she found, instead it was the young girl from the coven. Chia, Talaram’s daughter.

  Her clothing had changed since Miyah had left which was quite the feat given that not long had passed. Gone were the white night overalls, replaced with a long baige dress, a dark overcoat reaching her knees and travelling footwear. Her attire implied she planned a journey.

  “Can I help you?” Miyah asked unsure of what to make of the girls unexpected appearance.

  “If you’re heading for the divine shrine you’re going in the wrong direction.” Chia said in a cheerful but hushed tone.

  “Excuse me?”

  “My father may not be sure of what to do with you, but I am not my father. And I know where the divine shrine is located.” she winked.

  Miyah’s heart skipped a beat. Was Chia really offering to show her the way? But what of her father? Before she could ask these questions and more Chia answered as if she had read her mind.

  “My father means well but fear of prosecution can lead astray even the most devout. He wants to protect me and the other believers but that has blinded him to the opportunity you have presented us.”

  “And what opportunity is that?” Miyah asked, curious of the response, of what Chia thought she could provide a religion that Miyah did not believe in?

  “You are doing the saviours work at great personal risk I know that. You gather what was lost and forbidden. I ask that when your quest is complete, when you have pieced together our lost history and the acts of our lords the saviours that you spread the word. Our lords have been silenced long enough, it’s time their message be set free.”

  This was hard for Miyah to hear. Reveal to Woran, to the world the secrets she was learning? Did Chia even listen to the conversation Miyah had with her father? About the consequences? Chia thought she was setting herself up as a martyr for a religion she knew was untrue. And she had no desire to die, even if there had been a time that was not true.

  It’s not like she ever intended to keep what she learnt to herself forever but she had also never given much thought with what she would do with what she learnt. Everything she had done so far was driven by an intense desire to know. To know the history of the ruins, to know the true nature of the dragons, to know why that man had to die to keep those secrets.

  “Yes, of course.” she found herself saying. The lie was tinged with guilt but what else was she to say? Chia was offering her the location of the shurilin ruins saving her days, weeks of searching and risk of discovery. But who knows, maybe she was right, perhaps the truth should come out sooner rather than later. Not for the sake of a fabricated religion but for the power of truth itself and the good it would do. After all, what possible harm was there in ancient history to justify its suppression.

  It was always something Miyah would have had to confront one day anyway. What she did if or when her journey ended, when all the pieces of the puzzle were discovered and laid out together. Then she would have to decide what was next with her life and what to do with what she had learnt.

  Chia held her hands up in glee, her face as bright as sunshine. “Thank you Miyah! You have no idea what this means!” She took Miyah’s hand and lead her northwards, the opposite to where she had been heading. “The world will change for the better Miyah, all thanks to you!”

  Miyah, dragged along by the enduring strength of enthusiasm could do nothing but wonder if that would be true.

  * * *

  A short while later Chia was hunched over puffing and wheezing having failed to keep up her enthusiastic pace. Miyah on her part waited for her companion to recover, glancing around nervously hoping their rush had not been too conspicuous. Once Chia had regained her breath they continued on silently in a brisk walk.

  “Was it difficult getting across the border into Xeiyen?” Chia was the one to break the silence.

  Miyah looked to Chia shocked.

  “I overheard father say you crossed the border to visit a divine shrine there.”

  “Oh.” Miyah felt a chill overcome her. She had not told the Garvin chapter of her exact travels so Talaram should have had no way of knowing she’d crossed the border, and yet apparently he did. How much more did he know of her exploits? And more importantly was he the only one?

  “Xeiyen and Woran hold close ties, there is free trade and travel between our people’s through the northern mountains. Crossing into Xeiyen was no trouble.”

  It was clear Chia had never left the village if she thought entering Xeiyen would be an ordeal. Located north beyond the Rocki mountains, Woran enjoyed peaceful relations with Xeiyen. They were a powerful trade partner. More interested in regulating said trade through the mountains only safe passage than anything else. Travel to and from was easy, if you had the coin, Miyah had crossed the checkpoint along the mountain pass with little question.

  “What was it like? I’ve heard travellers tell tales that foreign kingdoms bare little resemblance to Woran life and traditions.” Miyah spied a familiar glint of wonder strike Chia’s eyes.

  “It was beautiful and exotic. Trees with pink leaves and a captivating culture. Their music was quite rythmic.” Miyah replied. The truth was she did not know much of Xeiyen herself. The shurilin ruin she’d sought lined the other side of the mountains so she had not ventured far inland and not knowing where any other ruins in Xeiyen were she had elected to return to Woran once she was done recording what she could. But the small glimpse of the foreign culture almost made her wish to stay.

  With such little knowledge of the surrounding kingdoms Miyah wondered what Chia would think of Rozenti to the west who was a close ally of Woran but did not deem to ask.

  “Father said our faith originated beyond that of Xeiyen in a land of snow. Fae there are not prosecuted for spreading the word of the saviours and entry to the divine shrines is not forbidden. It sounds too good to be true.”

  Miyah had not heard of this. It was true that while technically forbidden, Xeiyen had a relaxed attitude of indifference to the shurilin ruins, not that you would want to be caught trespassing all the same. But a place that encouraged such exploration? It was a far cry from Woran and the surrounding kingdoms. It did sound too good to be true, but if true it was something worth investigating.

  It was at this point Miyah noticed Chia glance behind her. It was so subtle it barely registered, in fact Miyah questioned if this had been the first she had done so but now that she had seen it once, Miyah spied Chia do it several more times before suddenly taking Miyah’s hand and rushing down the alley of a pair of buildings. Finding her footing Miyah let Chia lead her round a corner, across a street, past a few homes and finally through some bushes where they stopped and waited, hidden in the darkness of the leaves.

  “What was it?” Miyah whispered.

  “I thought someone was following us. If someone saw me out so late at night and told my father he would be furious.”

  “He doesn’t know you’re out here?”

  “Of course not. He’s busy discussing the nights events, I know how he gets with such matters. He thinks I have gone to bed and I’ll have plenty of time before he finishes with the others.”

  A short time passed and there was no movement in the direction they had come. As each moment passed a sense of relief fell until a grumble could be heard from a very empty stomach. Chia stifled her giggling.

  “Have you not eaten?”

  “Not since midday.” Miyah reached into a compartment of her pouch and pulled out some plain hardened bread. Something meant for an emergency but she could restock tomorrow.

  Chia stared as Miyah bit into the toughened bread. Winced at every laboured work of the jaw as they exited the brush and continued on.

  “How do you do it?”

  “What?”

  “Eat that stale bread. I don’t think I could eat something like that but I suppose fresh food is not always available on your travels.”

  “No, they’re not.” There were comforts Miyah missed from her previous life but those were sacrifices she’d happily make again in exchange for the knowledge she’d gained.

  The pair passed an open courtyard in the center of the village used for festivities and public gatherings. In the center was a stone statue depicting a muscular woman with a long strong face and flowing hair facing southwards holding a bow with a notched arrow aiming true into the distance. At her feet thorny vines reached upwards clawing away at her flesh. It was Agharia, deity of war, often erected as a ward against evil and facing towards what the erectors wanted protection from. Although often depicted, Miyah wondered if many knew that in myth Agheria would ultimately be consumed by those thorns.

  “This looks new.” Miyah noted at the smooth stone features devoid of weathering or grime.

  “It was erected recently.” Chia scoffed. “A false saviour built by those looking for easy protection.”

  “Protection from what?”

  “Zargania of course.”

  “Zargania?” Miyah swallowed the last of her bread anxiously. She had overheard the carriage drivers remark about Zargania but had quickly put it out of her mind, any mention of the southern country brought with it unpleasant memories.

  “Is it true?” she asked cautiously, “Is Zargania really preparing for another war?”

  “Another war? The last one never ended.”

  “But that was twenty years ago. There was a truce.” Miyah protested.

  “Father says that Zargania only agreed to that truce so they could fend off another aggressor.” Chia must have mistaken Miyah’s apprehension for doubt as she continued. “The Sharvy is only a half days trek away. We’ve seen Zarganian soldiers across the river while fishing. They try to keep hidden but they’re there and there’s only one reason why.”

  “If you suspect Zargania of invading why do you stay?”

  “Because the army will protect us. Last time no one expected the transgression, but this time Woran is ready and prepared.”

  Last time. Last time was a massacre. Using the shallower regions of the Sharvy river the southern kingdom of Zargania invaded bringing death and destruction in their wake. The invasion was completely unprovoked and had left a lasting effect.

  Tisp at the time had been a riverside fishing town. Known for its succulent kaylip and salmon exports it also acted as a hub linking other riverside towns and villages across the region. It was the first, and only settlement to fall to Zargania’s onslaught.

  It had been a massacre, fire, death, the screams, the wailing. The army eventually arrived but by then it was too late. The town, and everyone in it had turned to ash.

  Zargania withdrew suddenly afterwards, begrudgingly accepting a truce the Woran King offered. Much of the people wanted retribution but the King had neither the inclination or the manpower to mount a counter-invasion. The decision was unpopular, but stood.

  “I still pray for the souls lost at Tisp.”

  Miyah didn’t respond.

  “I heard there were a few survivors who spread north, far from the river. You’re well travelled, have you met any who survived?”

  “No. No I have not.” She said dryly.

  “Well this has soured things. Let us lighten the mood. Tell me of the divine shrines, what are they like? They must be grand.” she said, her enthusiasm shining once again.

  “What are they like? Um...well they’re definitely divine and...ancient. They’re like nothing you’ve ever seen before built of great stone and metal. The walls are made of light but...most have been extinguished. The shu...shrines saw some sort of battle long ago and were all but destroyed and left to decay. There isn’t much left of the ones I’ve visited but I hope to find one that has not suffered as greatly.”

  “It is a great shame.” Chia said sourly.

  It was. It had also failed to lighten the mood.

  They continued on in silence. By this point they had already left the village outskirts and were in the woods. Darkness surrounded them but thanks to the bright full moon they could see their way even through the branches overhead.

  “This is where we part ways I’m afraid.” Chia said suddenly.

  “You’re not coming?” Miyah asked.

  “Father forbids it and my penchant for disobedience only goes so far.” she grinned at her own mischievousness.

  Miyah assessed the path forward, except there was no path. Up a steep incline a random procession of trees, rocks and plant life lay before her with no clear way forward.

  “Worry not, continue upwards and the light of the saviour will guide your way.”

  Miyah looked at her incredulously but spied a smirk, Chia was having some fun at her fathers expense.

  “There are soldiers guarding the entrance. Their campfire will guide your way. Just head towards the cliff face...” She pointed off in the distance and Miyah could just barely make out the cliff face in the moonlight. “...and you will find them soon enough. The entrance to the divine shrine will be close by.”

  “How do I get past the soldiers?”

  “I haven’t the slightest but I have faith that someone of your experience will find a way.” Miyah appreciated the vote of confidence even if armed soldiers were never to be taken lightly but now she had her lead on the shurilin ruins and was determined to follow it through no matter what stood in her way.

  “Thank you Chia for what you have done.” Miyah bowed low, the formal Woran gesture for deep gratitude.

  “It is I who should be thanking you.” Chia made her own deep bow. “As I said before, you are doing the saviours work and you will reveal to the world the truth of their word, you will change the world I just know it.”

  A sense of guilt returned at those words. She did not do this for Chia’s religion, she did not do it with the goal of changing the world, she did it for herself to satiate her own burning curiosity. But perhaps that need not be all, perhaps she should be the one to share what she’s learnt, shine light on a history that however dark was long behind them.

  Or perhaps not. It was too much to think on with many dangers attached but now was not the time for such inflection. All she could do now was continue her quest by turning to make the trek up to the cliff.

  “Miyah wait.” Miyah looked back to Chia whose eyes, full of hope and misplaced veneration. “May the guardian of light guide you Miyah.”

  “And you too.” Miyah responded as the pair parted ways. Chia back the way they came, and Miyah onwards to the shurilin ruins.