From almost the moment they
left the cabin behind, Malaca and Kyliska were plunged into a world of fog and
mist. Although the light coming from the windows of Feh’menthar’s cabin reached
far into the gloom, it too eventually started to fade as Malaca lead them
further into the mysterious lands known as the Dark Marshes. Although the two
were traveling only along its southernmost border, even here it was difficult
to navigate and even harder to see.
Malaca moved almost like a
ghost, gliding across the uneven terrain as if she could see every bump and dip
in the rough ground. She hopped across roots or traveled with her feet in a
line down their length, while Kyliska stumbled along behind at a much slower
pace. Now and then she would almost disappear entirely, the foggy mists seeming
to swallow her up and her camouflage armor hiding her from sight. She would
always return though, a comforting presence in an increasingly isolated world,
there to guide Kyliska as they traveled, her heat-outline quickly becoming
familiar to Kyliska’s newly enchanted eyes.
As they passed through what
must have been the hundredth bog, Kyliska felt her boots slipping on a wet
stone, her leg sliding down and into the murky water, the liquid filling her
boot and chilling her toes almost immediately. Ahead, Malaca stopped still at
the sound of the splashing water, perched on a huge tree root with her head
tilted. A second later she turned to look back at Kyliska, her eyes glowing
dimly in the gloom as she observed the other struggling in the marsh-water.
“I believe it is time for
your first lesson, Kyliska,” Malaca said in an amused tone.
Kyliska grunted and replied,
“I do hope that lesson is how to get out of here!”
Malaca grinned, walking
carefully over to the edge of the bog where Kyliska struggled, balancing on a
large root that jutted out into the questionable water. She reached out, a hand
grasping Kyliska’s to pull her up, “Getting out is not always the most difficult
part. Getting dry is actually quite hard. You should take off your boots and
wring out your socks before we continue. I can instruct you while you do so.”
Kyliska shivered slightly as
she removed her boots and her socks. She did as Malaca suggested and wrung out
her socks. “I guess I did not really think through how difficult this
environment might be,” she said.
Malaca smiled, sitting on the
root beside the other elf and watching her, “It can be quite harsh, and this is
only the beginning, but your first lesson will help alleviate some of this. I
want you to look more carefully at your surroundings, using your new sight. It
takes some time to adjust to, but there are mysteries here you will spot.”
The Sura pointed to the
surface of the water, her finger moving in line with the root upon which she
sat, “The trees sink their roots deep, but in places where there is water the
ground washes away, and the roots are exposed. Water flows beneath them and
tiny creatures live and die in the fetid water. Where their decomposing forms
and matter becomes trapped, the water is warmer. You can see the outlines of
the tree roots if you look very carefully and focus with the eye-spell. Can you
see the roots?”
Kyliska focused and looked
around at her surroundings. She was able to see the roots as Malaca indicated.
She was still getting used to the eye spell, but it was interesting to see what
it could do for her and help her out in Dark Marshes. “I do see them! I would
never have even thought to look for them though. This will definitely take some
getting used to,” she said.
“It does, but I trust that
you are capable of handling it, Kyliska. I would never have agreed to bring you
here if I thought you would not be strong enough to survive this,” Malaca
replied. “It takes a certain type of individual to live in this place, one with
the inner strength to push forward and the raw, unwavering will and fire within
them to survive. I see that within you, as it was within your mother.”
The Sura paused for a moment,
rising and nodding at Kyliska, “Once your boots are back in place, let us
continue. Try to only walk along the surface of the roots when the ground is
wet. It is how you will avoid getting soaked again. We should make a campfire
once we’ve found the others to dry your feet lest you get one of the many
infections these swamps offer to the unwary.”
Kyliska nodded as she put her
socks and boots back on. They were still damp and cold but were slightly better
than before. “Yes I do think I share many qualities with my mother. I miss her
greatly. I am also looking forward to meeting the others. I think this will be
a welcome change from my life in Faetheril for now.”
Malaca grinned, “Excellent.
We are near our destination actually, but it is time for your second lesson
now. Your eyes are your most valuable assets in this place. I want you to find
their camp, and I will follow you. Let us see how you do, and if you remember
the things I’ve already told you.”
Kyliska nodded again, nervous
now. She wanted to be able to prove herself to Malaca but she had no idea how
to find their camp. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes for a moment.
When she opened them she concentrated and looked around. She could see roots
that were growing and she was careful to walk on the surface as Malaca
mentioned. She was cautious as she ventured towards where she thought the camp
might be. She blinked a few times and then smiled as she could see what she
thought were other Sura by the heat outlines. She looked back to Malaca and
spoke, “I think the camp is this way. I can see heat outlines, but I’m not
positive,” she said.
Malaca nodded, smiling again,
“Very good. What will you do to ensure it is those you seek?”
Kyliska thought for a moment before speaking, “I see your heart?”
she asked.
The Sura grinned,
“You’re doing well. They will not be able to hear you from here though, if they
are in fact friends. You will need to speak up!”
Kyliska smiled and spoke louder, “I see your heart!”
In the distance, a gruff
voice responded, “I hear your heart!”
Malaca nodded at
Kyliska, gesturing towards the distant sound, “It seems they are friends then.
Well done, Kyliska. You have found our camp and the remainder of my Claw. Let
us go and meet them, shall we?”
Kyliska smiled. “Yes we
shall, I am glad that I did that properly, I was nervous I must admit!”
“Do not fear, I had told
them I may bring you back with us if you were willing,” Malaca encouraged.
“They are eager to meet the daughter of Sassariel, and I suspect they will have
much to teach you.”
Kyliska slowly made her
way towards the heat outlines that she saw. As she got closer she could begin
to make out the actual forms of Malaca’s Claw members. It appeared that there
were four Sura at the camp; three males and a female from what she could tell.
They all stood as Kyliska and Malaca approached. Kyliska was nervous as she
examined the Sura before her. One male stepped forward and smiled at her.
Malaca grinned, slipping
past Kyliska and reaching out to take the Sura’s hand in her own. He was lean
and the same height as the Claw leader, his armor as equally detailed and
form-fitting as Malaca’s own. He grasped her hand in his, and they leaned
forward, their lips meeting in a quick kiss as Malaca turned and nodded at
Kyliska, “Thelven, this is Kyliska.”
Thelven nodded, his red
eyes studying Kyliska thoughtfully for a moment from beneath a tangle of black
hair that was tied back in a ponytail on his head. His smile widened, and when
he spoke it was with an even and low tone, “It is a pleasure to meet you,
daughter of Sassariel. We were hoping you would choose to come with Mal, and
I’m glad to see that you wish to learn more of your people. You are welcome
amongst the Claw.”
Kyliska smiled back, “It
is nice to meet you as well, Thelven. I am sorry I have not come sooner to
learn more about my heritage, but I am here now and I am ready to learn. I know
you live a very different life than I do back in Faetheril. I want to see what
my mother fell in love with here.”
Malaca grinned at this,
giving Thelven’s hand a squeeze before releasing him and gesturing to the elf
standing beside him, “Let me introduce you to the others. This is Desterion
Sunwind.”
The elf that she had
gestured to stepped forward, smiling broadly at Kyliska before dipping into an
informal bow. Wearing much lighter leather armor with a tunic beneath it,
Kyliska could clearly see the end of a bow and quiver of arrows peeking up
behind his short cropped black hair. His skin was not as pale as the other
Sura, and Kyliska could immediately tell that he was more akin to her than she
would have believed. When he spoke, his voice was full of energy and it
immediately soothed her nerves a bit, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss
Kyliska! We’ve heard much about the legendary daughter of Sassariel, but to
meet you in person is amazing! I hope that you find much here amongst
the fetid marshes to love as we have, and that we can answer all of your
questions!”
Kyliska blushed slightly
at hearing her mother being talked so highly of. She brushed away some of her
blonde hair away from her face. “Hello Desterion, nice to meet you as well! Was
my mother really a legend to your people? It is odd hearing her talked so
highly of. And I also fear that I have a lot to live up to!”
Desterion grinned, “Oh
of course she was! It was her deeds that orchestrated the near-destruction of
the last of the Aurali kings! She nearly brought upon us a golden age with her
sacrifice, and you should be proud! From what I can see, you are doing very
well living up to her reputation.” He winked at her, taking a step back to
stand amongst the others.
Kyliska smiled at him,
“There are some things we might have to agree to disagree on. I know the Sura
see things differently but she was a traitor to my people. She did not even
tell me of my true heritage, I only found out about it after her death,” she
paused and took a deep breath. “I’m not even sure what to believe anymore to be
honest. That is partly why I am here. I want to learn about this culture as
well, to learn as much as I can before heading back home.”
“Well spoken,” Thelven
said with a smile. Beside him another figure stirred, stepping forward. This
Sura was a bit smaller than the others, her long black hair framing her pretty
pale face as she smiled at Kyliska with her disturbing red eyes glowing faintly
above the expression. Thelven gestured at her, his tone still warm, “This is
Kyra, our Claw’s expert in all things having to do with magic.”
Kyra smiled dipping her
head once and resting what appeared to be an enchanted polearm on the ground as
she leaned on it, “It’s a pleasure to meet you. Hopefully you will not take
after our boring boys here and only want to focus on combat.”
She moved forward,
circling around Kyliska and studying her for a bit, the padded cloth dress she
wore fluttering with her movements and exposing thigh high boots through the
almost scandalously high slit in the side of the dress. She leaned in towards Kyliska,
almost whispering, “It would be fun to teach you all of the many things I
know.”
Kyliska admired Kyra’s
outfit and smiled, “Nice to meet you Kyra! I love your outfit. I must admit
though that I do like combat very much, and I am a little less into girly
things, but that dress looks great on you!”
Kyra nearly purred,
grinning at Kyliska and whispering in her ear, “It looks great off of me too…”
Malaca abruptly cleared
her throat, interrupting the whimsical elf and causing her to withdraw back to
the group. The Claw leader gestured towards the last of the Sura present,
nodding at him, “This is Dezos.”
As Kyliska blinked in
surprise, a monster of a Sura stepped forward. Much larger than the others and
wearing only leather pants and a tank top that left all of his bulging arms
exposed, Dezos was an imposing figure. This was not helped by the fact that he
wore a typical Sura combat mask, his red eyes glowing from the dark slit in the
front, a slash of what looked like red war paint across the front of the emotionless
facade. As Kyliska squirmed nervously in place, he stared her down, no greeting
issuing from the darkness behind the mask, his body rigid and one hand resting
on the hilt of a short sword at his belt.
After a moment, he
turned away from Kyliska, saying nothing to her but grunting at Malaca, his
tone curt and short, “Her boots are wet. She’ll be a liability.”
With that he passed
beyond the line of Sura, to tend to whatever business he had at the camp.
Malaca offered Kyliska a smile and a wink, “He’s not as surly as he seems; he
just needs to get to know you more first.”
Kyliska forced a smile,
“Of course. Well I am very happy to meet all of you! And yes I am sorry about
my boots, I tripped and fell on my way to camp. I still have much to learn
about the dark marshes and I am sure you will all be great teachers!”
Malaca nodded, “Yes, we
need to get your feet dry so that you don’t suffer from one of the many
ailments that the swamps bring with them. We will rest here for a time and make
a fire so that you can dry off while I explain how we will teach you.”
With that, the Sura
gestured towards the group. Immediately Kyra and Desterion disappeared into the
swirling mists around them, reappearing a few minutes later with a few pieces
of wood that looked soggy and useless for a fire. Malaca had them set the wood
down in a small pile in a cleared area beneath a weeping willow tree, her hands
reaching into a pouch to take out a small bundle shaped like a brick. Curious,
Kyliska watched as the Claw Leader placed the brick in the center of the wet
wood, striking flint and steel to it and causing it to flare up brightly with
fire.
“We use these prepared
and dried peat blocks to help us start a campfire in the wild,” Malaca
explained as she noted Kyliska’s look. “We prepare them in Surevar and provide
them to all of our Claws when they go out. We can start fires other ways of
course, but this is a simple, magic-free method. This flame will burn hot
enough to ignite wet wood and should dry your boots nicely.”
As Kyliska smiled and
sat beside the fire, she noted that the searing light from the flames bothered
her eyes more than she’d expected. The entire world looked red if she stared
into the fire too long, and she took care not to do so as she removed her boots
for a second time, propping them up next to the heat. As she finished, she was
startled to note Dezos standing on the other side of the fire, staring at her
through the wall of flames that made her eyes water and forced her to look
away. His stare behind his mask was unwavering, as if to say the pain from the
fire was nothing to him. He ensured that she saw him before turning and
silently walking away from the campfire and into the swirling mists beyond.
Malaca moved closer to
Kyliska, taking a seat beside her and setting a tin cup close enough to the
fire to warm it. She dropped a bag of what seemed to be herbs or tea leaves
into the cup, smiling as she nodded at the other elf, “You’ll be dry in no
time, and it’s a good time for me to have a hot drink. It’s a chilly day even
for the Dark Marshes.”
Kyliska smiled, "I'm
glad I picked this day to start my training then!" She laughed.
Malaca smiled at this,
“Hopefully you enjoy the experience. Each member of the Claw has been selected
to provide us with their expertise in a specific field. Together we make a
team, almost a family that can overcome any obstacle. Claw members remain
close, even when they are not on patrol, and it is key to ensure that their
personalities do not clash. Our Claws are vital for the survival of our people
and for Surevar’s safety, and you will find that we try our best to help one
another and to improve ourselves so we don’t let one another down.”
"I can already tell
how close you all seem to one another. Well other than Dezos. He seems to like
to keep to himself. He can be a bit intimidating. I do not think he likes me
being here. But everyone else has been very welcoming!" She said.
Malaca waved a
dismissive hand, “Dezos is simply a grizzled old veteran and worries that
newcomers will endanger the others. While he may be gruff, he’s as dependable
as anyone and I would trust him with my life, as you will come to do. As each
of the Claw will be instructing you on various aspects of our lives, it is up
to Dezos to teach you survival skills in the swamps. He’s an absolute expert on
this topic.”
Kyliska shrugged,
"Well if you trust him then I will too. I can see his point, I am an
outsider and really no one knows anything about me. But I do promise you I am
not a spy for Faetheril. I am really just curious and I am so thankful that you
are all so willing to teach me." She looked down for a moment,
"Things have happened recently that I needed to get away from. I lost my
love and my sister hates me. Seeing your Claw so close is something that is so
special. Hold onto that."
Malaca smiled at this,
nodding at the Claw members as they spoke quietly amongst themselves, “These
people here are my best friends, and Thelven has been my husband for more than
eight hundred years. We have been through wars, disasters, famine, and death
and have been under the threat of destruction for much of that time. You will
not find a family that is closer than we are. I would give my life for each of
them, as they would for me. What you will find, if you are willing to open your
mind and learn, is that you too can be a part of this, a part of us. You can
find the family you need here, amongst people who respect you for who and what
you are, and what you can do.”
Kyliska's expression
became warmer, "They would really accept me as one of their own? I
sometimes wish I could live in Faetheril and here. I am open to learn I promise
you that, I just do not know if I can stay here forever. It is so much to leave
back home even with my personal issues."
“You do not have to
choose now, Kyliska,” Malaca said gently. “We can teach you of our ways here in
the swamps, and you will see for yourself if you think this is a life worth
living. I cannot take a non-Sura to Surevar, however there is much you will see
away from our grand city that will open your eyes I think. Unfortunately, your
first lesson must be a harsh one, and taught by Dezos. If you cannot survive
here, you cannot travel with us. I would ask that you be patient and accept
what he has to tell you, and promise you that future lessons will be more
palatable for you.”
Kyliska laughed
slightly, "I will be OK. I can handle a lot and have been through a lot
myself. I respect Dezos as well as the rest of the Claw and what they will
teach me. Maybe I can even prove myself to him where he will like me more one
day soon!"
Malaca smiled and nodded,
“I’m sure he will. Go to him now and you can begin right away. Your boots look
dry enough at least. I will await you here and spend some time speaking with
Thelven.”
Kyliska nodded, standing
up and making her way towards Dezos. She put on a bright smile and spoke,
"Hello Dezos! Malaca thinks it might be a good idea if you train me
first."
Dezos stared Kyliska
down, saying nothing for a moment. He glanced past her, seeing Malaca and
Thelven speaking quietly near the campfire and Desterion and Kyra having their
own conversation. With a grunt he turned and walked away, beckoning for Kyliska
to follow him into the swirling mists of the swamps.
Kyliska put on a brave
face and began to follow Dezos into the swamp. For some reason she felt a need
to try to prove herself to him. It was probably due to the fact that he clearly
did not like her. She knew she had a lot to learn and he was not accepting of
her being here. She would show him she was serious about this though!
Once they were far
enough from the campfire for the light to no longer penetrate the thick mists,
Dezos paused and turned around, facing Kyliska. His mask gazed upon her
silently, weighing and measuring her. When he finally spoke, it was
begrudgingly, “First lesson. You made us have to light a fire with your
incompetence. Firelight attracts beasts in the swamps and causes camps to be
attacked. Malaca was being pleasant about it, but you put us all at risk. Don’t
do it again.”
Kyliska tried to keep
her smile bright, "Yes I know I made a mistake in falling but this is the
first time I have ever been in the dark marshes! Now I know what to look out
for."
Dezos merely grunted,
turning away from Kyliska and approaching a nearby group of reeds that jutted
up from the murky swamp water. He crouched down, pausing by it for what seemed
like forever but was probably only a minute or two. His hand snapped out
suddenly, snatching something out of the air.
The large Sura got up,
turning back towards Kyliska and reaching out to take her hand in his, with her
hand palm upward. He deposited what appeared to be a type of dragonfly in the
palm of her hand. Staring down at her with his expressionless mask, his voice
echoed dully from within it, “Eat that.”
She looked down at the
insect and spoke, "What is that, why should I eat it?"
“It’s a bug. Because I
told you to,” Dezos replied gruffly. “If you can’t follow instructions we can
just drop you back off at the edge of the swamp and be done with you now.”
Kyliska sighed,
"Alright I'll eat the damn bug; you could try explaining why because that
would help me learn." She put the bug in her mouth as Dezos instructed.
Dezos watched as she
chewed the rather disgusting tasting dragonfly, his mask a silent wall between
them. Once she had managed to choke down the creature, he replied, “The swamp
is full of midges. They bite everyone traveling here. You have two options;
cover yourself in mud all the time, or take precautions so you don’t get their
diseases. You eat those dragonflies and they will give you a temporary immunity
to several local fevers. Eat one every few days. They’re always in the reeds.”
He paused, studying her
silently for a moment, “There is always a reason for everything we do in the
swamp, and if you do not study carefully, you will die or drag the others down.
I won’t allow that.”
Kyliska nodded, "I
understand. I will try to pay close attention and not ask too many questions. I
am used to other elves trying to betray me so this is something new. I would
have never just listened to someone blindly like that in Faetheril. I'm
sorry."
Dezos grunted again and
shrugged, “This is not Faetheril. Sura do not stab each other in the back or
leave each other to die. Let that be your second lesson. I may think you’re too
soft from the palaces of Faetheril and that you will weigh us down, but I will
still fight to the death to keep you alive while you are part of this team. See
to it that you do the same for the others.”
"I will. I do have
a sense of honor and protecting those that are close to me. I am a fighter
Dezos. I can handle a lot I am not like other nobles from Faetheril. I never
seemed to fit in there actually. I revel in combat, it is where I am most at
ease and happy," she said with a smile.
Dezos didn’t respond to
this, merely grunting and turning from Kyliska. He beckoned for her to follow,
bringing her to a cluster of rocks that stood out from the swampy muck nearby.
He picked up a stick and pointed with it towards the rocks, his voice slightly
less gruff, “You see these loose rocks? I’m sure Malaca has taught you to
travel across the roots, but you should never step on smaller stones. Watch and
learn.”
He thrust the stick
forward, prodding the loose piles of stones. Instantly a black snake lunged
from the muck, its fangs sinking into the stick. Dezos chuckled, flicking the
stick and throwing the snake off, “Every time.”
Kyliska gasped, "I
did not know about the snakes! They seem vicious! I definitely do not want them
biting me. Are they poisonous?"
Dezos chuckled again,
“Everything in the swamp is poisonous in some way or another. Speaking of
that…”
He turned, walking with
her towards a weeping willow that hung over a fetid pool of water. He crouched
down beside it, beckoning for her to do the same. Along the tree’s bark a row
of mushrooms grew, some of them red, some yellow, a few of them having landed
in the soil beneath the tree and sprouting there as well. He pointed at the
yellow ones, “These you can eat. You eat any other type of mushroom in this
place and you can have fun puking your guts out.”
Kyliska laughed, "I
will keep that in mind. I do not want to get sick in the swamps! It's amazing
how some things can be so harmful here yet others are helpful to our
needs."
Dezos grunted, rising
and gesturing, “The swamp is full of useful resources. If you learn it and know
it, it will be your best ally. Fail to heed its warnings and it’ll take you
quick as that. I can’t show you everything here, but you’re starting to get the
idea. You watch the others as they work, and you’ll get the rest of it. Learn
quickly is all I can tell you."
Kyliska nodded and
smiled, "I will do my best. I do not want to get myself or the other
members hurt. Thank-you Dezos."
Dezos shrugged, “I’m
just following Malaca’s instructions. I think this is a good start. I will show
you more as we go, but at least you won’t die outright now. If you stick
around, you’ll end up an expert out here in the wilds eventually.”
He paused, turning to
gaze at her from behind his mask, “You screw up and you can get members of our
team killed. Make sure you pay close attention. I won’t let the others get hurt
for a green recruit, got it?”
Kyliska shivered
slightly, "I understand. I do not want anyone to get hurt because of
me."
“Good, see that you
don’t. Come on, let’s get back to the others. We’ve got a lot of ground to
cover for the next mission from what I hear,” Dezos replied, already moving
purposefully back towards the camp.
Behind him, Kyliska
trailed after more slowly, noting that the distant campfire had already been
extinguished and the experienced Sura fighters of the Claw were prepared to
move out. It was going to be a difficult learning experience, maybe the hardest
she’d ever faced, but at the same time it would bring her full circle and
complete who she was. As she joined the group and saw them nod at her in
acknowledgement, she knew for the first time what it felt like to belong
somewhere.
