Glow

Chapter Fifteen

Dedicated to Jess, who writes Potter's Field. There's a link in the comments, if you want to read it. It's really freakin' awesome. And she just finished it. I really hope she writes more wonderful things in the future. Good luck in 2014, Jess!

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The wind had started to whistle across the plains. He could hear it from the innermost depths of the Tower. He watched as the sand rose into the air with the gentle breeze and danced, twirling with it. There was no intense gale yet, just enough to keep the heat from persevering, and he greatly appreciated it.

He had been working for a time now, and stood to stretch his wearied back. He was getting older. He saw it in his hands as they grew drier and wrinkled, and hobbled to the wooden shelf that contained the many jars he used on a daily basis. Picking up one that was filled with a bright orange liquid, he quickly pulled out the stopper and downed half the contents of the phial in a quick second. After a few moments, he watched the skin of his hands stretch back into its more youthful state. The now-young sorcerer moved to the small stone window that cast a fat shaft of light over the room, and pulled down a screen of thin deerskin that still shed light on the space, but blocked the room from the sand that might come in.

He knew they were coming, and he settled back into his chair.

Things were going to get crazy. And they were going to get crazy, fast.

                                                                *

Kunda's capitol loomed ahead of Arvind, daunting with its many tiers, its spires, but especially its walls, which rose higher than the forest surrounding them. Along with this was a massive moat, dug many feet deep and wide, which could only be crossed by a hinged drawbridge that was lowered by a great chain carried by many men. The scent of the salty ocean wafted through the trees.

"How are we going to get in?" Samara had asked a few minutes earlier, as they neared the great city. "Most Kundarians have dark hair and dark skin. They will take one look at us and shoot us."

Xef smiled. "Child, you're quite prey to the stereotypes of your realm. Not all Kundarians have dark skin. And not everyone falls in love with a dark haired person. Meaning there's a diversity colour all throughout the kingdom. You will barely stick out. Kitsune," he looked at the Archer to his left, on her deer. "you mentioned the balance. Will the dreaming monk help us determine how it has been broken?"

The Archer nodded.

"Good," Arvind took a deep breath. "Now let's go. Time is running out."

But, as they looked up at the front of the giant drawbridge, he seemed less determined- his stomach started to flutter, and his chest started to feel as if it was burning. The anxiety radiated off him, and when he glanced over at Samara, who rode next to him, he saw she, too, was nervous. Her face held a sickly grey pallour to it, and she glanced at Arvind quickly. He saw the look in her eyes, the look of a trapped animal.

Arvind gently urged his horse to ride closer to her and in a sudden movement, he reached across her back and put an arm over her shoulders. He felt her stiffen and very slowly relax. Then, hesitantly, she held her own arm out and put it around his shoulder.

"Don't worry, Samara," He said quietly as they neared the edge of the moat. Xefarias and Kitsune had already stopped, and a moment later, Arvind slowed his own horse until it stood still.

The great walls dominated the skyline. They watched as the great drawbridge lowered in front of them, revealing a large pathway into the kingdom of Kunda.