Our trek ends amongst the quiet peace of the Hemwood trees. The thick canopy keeps most of the rain out; the drops that make it through phase into a mist. The carriage stops along the trail, a long stretch of road left ahead of us. We file out, the siblings helping the old woman once more. Darkness creeps through the wood, held at bay by scarce torches lining the road. Led by Kym, and with her holding Nana's hand, we cross the barrier into the black. In the all-consuming dark, I keep close behind Kym. Otherwise she fades into the surrounding abyss.
"Can we get some light?" Max asks from behind, a touch of fear in his whisper.
"Quiet!" Kym hushes him quickly. "The path must not be seen, and we cannot risk anyone watching us. Secrecy is their most powerful tool."
"Who?" my curiosity betrays me before I can stop it. A long silence meets my question.
"It's not far now," Kym finally says.
True to her word, our steps slow a few minutes later. We stop at the sight of a small spark in the distance. A flame roars to life on the end of a torch, and it grows as its wielder approaches. Its figure blends into the dark, only half of a featureless silver mask illuminated. When it stops a few yards away, it looms over us in expectant silence. The large frame stands still, fire flickering across its mask, sizing us up. Soon, it turns in its place and paces back to where it had appeared. Only the light of the torch remains as we follow.
A ring of torches come ablaze, each resting atop tall rocks. Thirteen in total, our little group stands in the middle of them. The giant figure, revealed by the light of the flames to be donned in a flowing black robe and cloak, stakes the rod of his torch into the earth and raises two huge palms in the air. A heavy wind swirls around the edge of the stones, the flaming torches lapping like mad in the rough breeze. The leaves of the surrounding trees rustle on their branches, the weakest of them breaking free and joining the whirlwind. Nana lets go of Kym's hand and releases a cry into the cacophony, arms outstretched toward the chaos.
As soon as it swells, it ends. Even Nana's screeching cuts short. The abrupt stillness leaves a ringing in my ears and my hair disheveled. All around us, on every rock grows a purple light. Bright, pale, and rippling like water, the light encompasses the whole of each tall rock.
The ringing in my ears is replaced by a low hum, each stone quietly singing a note. All together, the chorus's chants fill the trees and my heart. Powerful magic unlike any I have seen. Rapturous.
"What is this place?" comes my curiosity.
"These are the Obelisks of Itisio," Kym answers, guiding Nana to Max's side. She goes without a struggle and takes his hand. "Each is a portal that sends you to another set of Obelisks dotted across the world. They're great for traveling long distances, but..."
"I require payment for those who wish to cross," the giant declares, the deep thunder made soft. Turning, he reaches out a hand to us.
Kym approaches him, digging into another pouch hanging from her waist. From it she produces a smaller pouch, its contents clanking and clacking against each other as she hands it off. Going back in, she also pulls out a small horn. A bit of bloody grey flesh still clings to the base. Last given to the giant is a coin, larger than a gold piece and washed in red. The giant tucks each of these away into his cloak.
"Three may enter," the giant says, pointing to a portal to our right. "Quickly."
The four of us step up to the portal, its hummed note growing stronger. Max and Nana pass through first, the purple light encompassing their figures as they phase into the destination. Kym takes a gentle hold on my hand, pulling my attention to her.
"I'll see you soon, okay?" she says, her eyes screaming her desire to come with us. But there is coin to be made, and sometimes you just need to go get it. Nothing new for our little troupe, yet the longing remains.
"Better be for more than five minutes this time," I tease, drinking in her image.
"With how long it's been, are you sure you can make it last that long?" she jokes back.
We come together for a moment, arms around each other and our lips locked in a sweet embrace. She lets me go, leaving me wanting more, and bids me farewell before disappearing into the shadows.
I turn to the portal and let the light take me. Little waves of tamed lightning wash over me from head to toe, pulling me with a delicate touch further inward. The hairs on my arms stand on end under the cloth of the shirt, gooseflesh perking up, a cool current sending down my spine. The soft beckoning reverses, pushes me out with that same faint force. The light breaks as I step out into the clearing of another stone circle. Dark and unattended, a cold breeze dances through.
The moon high above hangs in a thin crescent, its low light just enough to shine through the sparser trees here.
"Might be a town up ahead," Max says, pointing out a pair of flickering lights beyond the edge of trees.
We make our way toward it, Nana keeping close to Max for safety and warmth. Nocturnal birds call from their perches, chirping and chiding, as we trudge through the night. The dots of distant lights grow into flames settled on torches, marking the gate on a fence. Beyond the wooden railings that stop at my waist sits a small house, a stable fixed a few yards away. Three horses sleep there, nestled on the ground of their stalls. A gravel path leads from the dirt road curving around the front of the house to the front door. The tiny rocks crunch with every step, announcing our arrival with loud annoyance. The door opens, and a woman appears. Disheveled brown hair hangs in loose curls, falling beyond her shoulders. A wary look shines on her face, tanned and wrinkled. Still in her nightgown, she aims a loaded crossbow out the door.
"Bad decision walking up to a stable at night," she says, low and warning. "Not very good thieves, are you?"
"We're not thieves, ma'am," I tell her.
"Not today, anyway," Max chimes in with a goofy grin. The crossbow swings to him, her finger on the trigger.
"Watch your words, son," the woman growls. "Not a big fan of jokesters."
"We mean no harm, you have my word," I interject, hands up and taking a step toward her. "We are in need of shelter for the night, or a couple of horses to get to the next town. We can pay for either."
While her aim remains on Max, her focus goes to me. She studies me for a long moment, and I do not move. No need to do anything to provoke her further. Her eyes then flick to Nana.
"Who's the parka?" she asks, looking back to me.
"This is Nana," I explain. "My friend and I have been tasked with taking her home. We still have a long way to go, and we'd rather not make her walk the distance if we can avoid it."
The woman deliberates once more, looking over our trio. The crossbow moves to me.
"You got a name, kid?" she asks.
"My name is Rokkoh, and the loudmouth is Maximus."
The woman nods slow, lowering the crossbow. She sets it down just inside the door, crossing her arms over her chest as her attention returns to us. My hands rest at my sides.
"Kym's boys, huh?" she remarks. Max and I exchange a curious glance, but accept the label. She offers a breathy chuckle, steps out of the house, and shuts the door. "How much you got?"
"Enough," Max answers quick.
The woman shoots him a glare, rolls her eyes with an exhausted groan, and focuses back on me. She arches an eyebrow, asking me silently.
"He's the one with the money," I tell her, "but I'm certain we can afford your prices."
"And if I said it was 500 each?" she asks, a teasing smirk on her lips. She takes a few slow, short steps in our direction.
"Then I'm sure we could arrange a deal of some sort," I reply, a cool grin meeting hers.
She stops a few feet away, aligning herself to me. Chin turned up to match my gaze, her eyes (silver in the moonlight) look me up and down, sizing me up. She lingers on the sword, or what I'm guessing is the sword, for a long second.
"You ever have to use that thing before?" she asks, her voice lowering into a soft yet husky and sultry.
"Depends on which thing you're referring to," comes my answer in a similar tone.
"The blade, young buck," she chuckles. "Pretty thing like you has certainly used that other weapon a time or two."
"How much for a couple horses?" I gently press.
"Don't wanna play, big man?" She wears a faux pout. "It would keep your coin purse heavy."
"Another time, when there is little coin to spare. Perhaps then."
Her smile goes sour, the tan wrinkles on her forehead furrowing in frustrated defeat. Stepping back, she huffs out a sigh.
"Seventy-five each," she says. "Have your pick. They're all good stock."
Max digs into the bag on his belt, pulling out two smaller leather pouches. They both jangle into the woman's hand. He escorts Nana to the stable, picking out a strong salt and pepper beast. I help lift Nana onto the steed before taking a tawny stallion for myself. We ride slow back to the gate, the duo clearing it first.
"Follow the road around the hill," the woman calls. "Fiona's Rest isn't much farther than a mile out. And tell Kym she's run out of favors."
"Thank you very much, ma'am," I say back, feeling knightly with the politeness.