In Time

The city sparkles in the night, lit by thousands upon thousands of open flames.

It is the last hope of a people long gone and going further.  Her heart quickens as she draws nearer, silently picking a path through towering trees and scattered outcrops of rock.  She has but a few hours before sunrise and knows better than to approach by daylight.  The green tint of her skin will raise suspicion in certain quarters – they won’t be as enchanted as the Westerners.  Her aunt was right: their kind have never been stranger in this Realm.

Her aunt’s specter hangs heavy over the path.  She bears the weight of her blood’s trust with pride but it is heavy.  As a girl, she dreamt of hoisting such burdens, of wearing the mantle of Hero.  Dreams are deceptive, easy, watered down.  In the light of day – in the face of destruction – they suddenly seem like nightmares.  Her people need her.  She is not ready to be the last.

She abandons caution and cuts close to the road.  The sky glows purple at its edges.  Time is of the essence. 

Time is of the essence.

*          *          *

The city sparkles in the night, lit by thousands upon thousands of open flames.

The shadows seem longer tonight as she prepares to leave her old life behind.  She takes the steps as quick as her little feet can, gripping her skirts up high and tight, mindful of the many eyes of Helm watching.  She curses her fate.  All her life she was raised to truth, clarity, wisdom, even as she gave her life and body to a myth – to a lie.  Now she sees.  Now, for the first time, she envies the Blind.

The Empress’s specter hangs heavy over the steps.  Was there ever an Empress in the first place?  Did she really tame the dragons whose blood she shared?  Or are both the speaking Books telling their own little lies?  What she wouldn’t give to go back there, to see for herself how the home she knew – the home that will surely kill her – came to be.

She leaps down the last three steps and heads straight for the shadow.  The sun will rise and shine its seeking light.  In time, all will be revealed.

In time, all will be revealed.

*          *          *

The city sparkles in the night, lit by thousands upon thousands of open flames.

This is only the prologue to a great reckoning.  It gives him a shred of comfort as watches from his perch.  His steed lies asleep beside him, no doubt tired and bored from a long night’s watch.  There was nothing new to see, but his master doesn’t care.  He doesn’t come to see the action, he comes to be reminded of the task.  There are days when he still feels higher than the city itself.  This is dangerous.  He has to be reminded of his place.

Helm’s specter hangs heavy over his head.  Mocking him.  Daring him.  Yet even hatred of a god cannot cut as deep as is his own embarrassment.  All that time he wasted in service.  All that blood on his hands.  All he took in the name of truth, protection, and love, only to find it was greed that worked his hands, not honor.

Satisfied for now, he rouses his steed and prepares to depart.  The fires may flicker now but soon they will roar.  The time of reckoning will come.

The time of reckoning will come.