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WHEN LIGHT AND SHADOWS DANCE
Lengthening Shadows
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PROLOGUE
The night was waning fast. From the west, the faint grey light that summoned the sun crept across the sky, banishing the stars back behind their curtains of the heavens, the twin moons hanging in the sky, fading into the blue light.
The sun would not appear for some time though. To the west in the Drelle was to behold the Ythrythral Mountains, before the sea and sparce grass between. The Drelle, and unholy place with a reputation for the most superstitions and evils that border myth, where even the braevst and most enduring men and women could not tame its wilderness; here was an ideal place for those who wished secrecy and isolation. The price was risking your life, among other things as well...
Zevach shifted on his mount, an armored giant lizard, a crature indigenous to the land about him. He frowned and groaned under his breath as he surveyed the land; barren, as always, no matter how far he looked. It was a wonder people thrived here, nomadic people who roamed the night, stopping in daylight to rest. Even more surprising was their nature; though they were human in every way, the one diffeence was that they were nocturnal. As such, they were well equipped naturally to live in darkness, their senses honed and sharp.
Zevach had every intention to reach the mountains, where he would not be found. The nomads, the "Yythylse," feared the mountains, the shamans and tribe leaders speaking of ancient spirits and mythical creatures residing there, and considered them sacred. For Zevach, if he were to encounter such, he would not hesitate to bend them to his will.
He lightly tapped the beast's sides, egging it to a brisk stride. He did not want to be in the open when the sun came out, when the rest of the desert woke with it. As strong and experienced as he was, he was not about to put his life in danger. Not yet.
A tall man, and well built, Zevach was an intimidating figure, and even more so with his black armor. He bore no helmet, exposing his bacl hair and trimmed beard, both bearing stray grey hairs. His only protection was the large broadsword at his side. If he had other means to defend himself, they were not obvious.
A soft breeze swept across the sand, carressing the side of his face from the north. He sniffed the air once, twice, and glanced over his shoulder, grimacing. The air reaked of death and decay; and no wonder, with such a creature following a little ways beside him. A sickly, gross looking thing walked a few meters away, standing on its powerful hind legs, its long bony tail curled around and nearly touching the skull... literally. It stood nearly as tall as he was on the lizard's back, and bore no visible face; looking closely thoguh, one would find it's eyes, nose and ears covored by a thin layer of skin. The mouth was lipless, and bore rows of small, razor shapr teeth. On all of it's digits, long sharp claws portruded, as well as from it's elbows and knees and from the tail's end, which was also poisonous. The nomads called them "Yythalose;" demons, in their tongue. They weren't far off, either. Creatures of the Netherworld, they had been brought here to the Drelle quite by accident. Fortunately for them, they were equipped in such a way to be well at home and comfortable, their thin skin pale skin repelling the heat, and at night, retained it.
Zevach turned back to face forward, wrinkling his nose as he did so. They were useful creatures, but they smelled terrible. Ignoring it's presence, he continued on; the mountains were close, and he was eager to reach them. He glanced up at the twin moons, inspecting their position almost curiously. The moons would soon align in a few days, and event that only occured every score of years. He had seen it so many times where others would see it only a few. And each time it was recognized as the Moon Festival all over the land of Almanast, a tradition for thousands of years kept. The black-armored man frowned as he adjusted himself again. Soon, he thought to himself, soon I will have my revenge.
 b10n1cl3k1n6 · Thu Mar 25, 2010 @ 08:58pm · 2 Comments |
