The Blessed City

Maleah stood in the Red Desert. The sun was insanely hot, thinning the air until it was near impossible to breathe. Shielding her eyes, she turned in circles. Yellow dirt stretching forever into the distance. Desperation gripped her and she began to walk. Searching for water, people, anything. But found nothing. She was alone.

She pleaded for help. Screaming until her voice faltered in the dead heat. Blisters swelled under her boiled feet and she began to feel her skin throb. Defeated, she fell to her back. Any tears she may have shed had tried up. Sprawled on the dirt, she prayed to the godless sky.

Let it be swift.

"You can be so dramatic sometimes." Blinking, Maleah saw the woman appear. Her hair shimmered until it lay, straight-pinned brown down her back. A simple white gown floated around her body, glided across the dirt. A single clasp held it all together over her chest. She smiled evenly at her. Equal parts amused and sympathetic.

"Who are you?"

"Come," she said. "There is no time to waste."

Maleah took her outstretched hand and felt her body flood with calm. As she stood, the sun twisted into itself, and the air around her thickened until the sun hung cooly in a pale blue sky. Her blisters disappeared into the fresh grass. Vibrant and green the blades sprung softly from the soil. Trees grew boldly from deep roots and their leaves blossomed with flowers. Sweet pine and sticky salt scented the air she breathed.

Unsure, Maleah wiggled her toes through the grass. Relief and confusion fluttered inside her stomach. Then, it stopped: she was dreaming.

With sad eyes, she looked to her savior. She searched her face as if she looked into a mirror. The familiarity of soft angles and plump cheeks. Specks of gold spackled her brown eyes. Eyes, Maleah knew she would not be able to say no to.

At her wave, Maleah walked beside the woman. Following the land as it climbed to a cliff and dropped. She could hear the waves crashing below, could see the water thrashing, receding, repeating.

At its edge, the woman pointed out to a large rock. It protruded from the cliff and curved into the shape of a bowl. Its red surface reflected many years of ocean wear, even as the red ring circled painted where the ocean grew its highest.

"Find where the forest meets the sea. They will be waiting for you."

"Who? Who is waiting for me?"

"The twins." Confusion betwixt her face. "You know the stories. Everything you will need is already inside them."

"I don't do well with riddles."

The wind kicked subtly through her hair as she smiled, bemused. "Better than most."

But she frowned.

"The world, as you know, is under the control of a ruthless king who should have never been given a crown. Bonds have been broken and only a few can mend them. Find them, Maleah. Find them and fix it."

The wind began to thrash. Throwing her hands up, Maleah covered her eyes. "Find who? I don't even know how to find Sabhille." When she looked again, the woman faded.

Her dream fell apart. Trees fell, the grass died and the water retreated far into itself. Beneath her, the cliff crumbled until she collapsed with it and fell awake.

. . .

She did not tell the others about her dream. If only because she didn't know how to explain it to herself. None of it made sense. What was she to fix? Who were the twins? She added these to the many riddles she had yet to decipher just below the one that would explain why Doc sent her south.

They'd been riding for hours and on faith that Cam's estimate was right. To his luck, the Tri-Bordered City came into view as they mounted a hill. At the distance, Maleah could see the walls were built to withstand an attack - by element or creature - and rose at least a hundred feet. Three towers marked each region, climbing higher than the walls until the turrets peaked.

From atop the hill, Maleah saw each region reach farther than her eyes could see. They came from the rolling hills of Jayurn, where to the right, the hills gave way to dirt and gritstones and spread into the heart of Capor. Opposite, the land fell and coated Fenrah in a thick bog.

The city gates were made of tall, heavy metal that opened like a double-doorway. Each was sawed to fit artistically into the frame of the brick archway. Staring through it, Maleah was reminded of the bars from her cell. Shaking off the eery feeling, they approached them and waited as they swung open.

Inside, they were greeted by two men in simple clothing.

"Where to?" one of them said.

"Shelter. For us and our horses." Cam dismounted, greeted the men with a hand to clasp their elbows.

"You will find inns in three places. The Rolling Hills Tavern, The Boggart Pub, or the Gritstone Inn. Prices will depend on room and region. Welcome to the Burrows. Do enjoy your stay."

The city was larger than it first appeared. The three regions were clearly marked, even inside the walls. A large cobblestone road divided the city down its center until it ran a circle around a large stone dais, then split twice more into either direction, effectively splitting the city into three.

They walked between what she thought to be Jayurn and Capor's third. Jayurn was identified by the soft tones of brown and green as the hills they'd crossed. There, the buildings were built from wood. The walkways between were padded with brown soil. Capor continued the cobblestone theme but flattened its roads and stones made up the structure of its buildings. Beyond the center of the city, she knew, would be Fenrah. Strolling to the dais, Maleah glanced around and found they had wrought their places with wattle and daub atop mushy soil.

Turning in a circle, Maleah observed the bustling city. It was lit with careless life. If she didn't know better, the people appeared normal. Moving about their days in simple garters. Black or brown pants, loose white and tan shirts, and large fur coats wrapped over many shoulders. There wasn't a single uniform insight. The city seemed to live outside the King's rule. But even still, she knew all men sought to better themselves. No matter who they had to betray to do just a bit better.

Laughter echoed down every street; hot food stirred the people.

No one paid them any attention as they ambled through the city in search of shelter. Weaving their way through Jayurn's roads, they found the Rolling Hills Tavern. It was as good a place as any. They secured their horses in the empty stables behind it and entered the establishment.

The proprietor was old. His mouth glistened with rotting teeth and his face with grime with filth. Half his head was spackled grey and black and he spoke in harsh half-finished sentences. "Three cobbles for a room. Four for the horses."

Cam attempted to negotiate the price, jiggling a pouch of coins he had conveniently forgotten to tell them he possessed.

"Three cobbles for the room. Four for the horses," he repeated.

After several tries, Cam turned to the girls. "We can find another place."

"Nowhere else to go. All full. Booked for the winter. Here is last place." The proprietor cackled. " "Three for a room --"

"Four for the horses, yes we understand." Cam scowled at the man. "We do not have enough. Let's go."

Maleah's hand fell instinctively to her pouch. She turned it in her fingers, considered her gift. When the others turned to leave, she walked up to the man.

"How much did you say it was?"

"Three for a room, four for the horses."

Seven, she added. Digging into her pouch she searched for the coin that would close the gap and ignored Cam when he hissed at her. Thinking of what they needed, she pulled out a single coin. Its gold surface shined untouched in her fingers. On its face, she saw two identical faces stare back at her. The male and female were bonded together by a thread around their wrists. Hesitating, she looked to the proprietor.

His eyes had widened, glazed with greed. Smacking his lips, his breath hitched.

"Would this cover our cost?" He reached out to take the coin, but she stepped back. "Is it of value to you? This silly coin."

"A coin like that is worth much. 'Specially in these parts." His cracked teeth peeked through his strained mouth.

"Perhaps a new bargain is required, then. Say, in addition to a room suitable for us, shelter for our horses. Food and bath for them as well. For us too. For this night and the morning. Then anything we shall need from the markets for our travels." She knew she was pushing it. But by the desperate, greedy look on the proprietor's face, she didn't doubt he'd take the deal.

"Cheat!" he reprimanded, wringing his hands.

"A bargain," she corrected. She kept her voice calm and her eyes steady even as Cam whispered worries into her ear. Twiddling his hands, the proprietor measured their deal. When she grew impatient, she pressed.

"We could always take our business elsewhere," she started to replace the coin inside her bag."

"Wait! Wait," he nearly jumped over the desk between them. "Yes. Yes. Fine. Room. Food. Horses, you. Done. The coin!"

She waited for a beat, watching with great pleasure as the man stared desperately at his prize before handing him the coin. "Show us to our room."

The three of them followed the man up narrow stairs as he clutched the coin closely to his face. At the door, he plucked a key from his pocket and unlocked it. Handed the key to her. Before he left, he gave them directions to the bath, the markets, and to the pubs.

Behind closed doors, they relaxed. Four beds lined the room. Two on each wall. A large window sat over a seat overlooking the road between buildings. A fireplace slept near the door with fresh wood stacked by its side. They each claimed a bed, resting the packs near the foot. Laying her hand on the foot of a bed, she caressed the soft threads. Sitting, she found Cam setting the fire and Rhys already sitting under the sill.

At twilight, Cam and Rhys left to find supper. Alone in the room, Maleah busied herself. Grabbing her ganuaim, she slipped onto the seat under the window. Unknotting the bag, she laid out its contents.

Reaching inside, she slid her hand until it completely disappeared into its belly. Not the least bit surprised - the lack of which surprised her - she felt around until she pulled out the vile Vamirah had given Rhys who'd asked her to hold onto it for her.

Pulling out a dagger, a shirt, a belt, a cloak, and more. She folded each until she had an entirely new outfit in front of her. From its void, she found a tin of still-warm rolls, apples, two extra skins of water (both full), and several pieces of fae jewelry that Rhys must've snuck in there when she was sleeping.

Pleased with her discoveries, she fumbled her hand inside the bag and felt a different texture beneath her fingers. Teasing the edges, she felt the flip of pages and plucked a book from the bag.

It was small in width, but thick. In pristine condition, the paged showed no signs of aging. Thumbing through, words flashed. Blurring together. Closing the cover, she ran her fingers over the empty felt.

Unsure what to expect from a nameless book, she opened it to read the first page:

Soul of the Stars,

I speak to you -

Long it has been since I walked the earthly plane by your

side. The consequences of my departure were more severe

than I had foreseen. My companions, my remarkably

mysterious companions, left me no choice. As valiant and

fair-minded as they are, they were also burdened

with the same disease that courses through so many

species.

Greed and lust and desire for more. More power, more

control. More. Not all of them have become ill with this

plague. That I must acknowledge. But those who have, I

cannot reason with. It is because of this that I have chosen

my path and had not the foresight to choose otherwise.

Now, beyond the reach of my heavenly home from which

I lived my entire life, I walk. Alone, I have hidden from

the sight of the prophet. He will, no doubt, try to find

me as he will continue to receive the sight. He was always

good-hearted and I know will continue to be even in the

face of the darkness. But from now on, he will no longer

be able to see me. What I did not foresee, too, was that my

own sight would become masked. I cannot foretell what is

to come.

So this book is all the evidence I leave of myself. In it

is me. My thoughts. My actions. My everything.

I knew it was to come, you see. Only after I had made

my choice, of course. Far too late to change the fates.

They will think awful things of me. And it is only the

beginning of a long harrowing journey that we all must

take. I have dreaded this day for too long. Knowing,

deep in my heart of hearts that I would have to step

away from my duties and let everything play out as it must.

Our actions as guardians have been misguided. And

I share so much of that responsibility. That burden.

Overcome and blinded by the nuisances of this earthly

world and obsessed with creating new Blessed's,

we have all forgotten our purpose.

Our consequences will be resounding. No living species

will be unaffected by it. Now and in the future. Our

absence will create unparallel chaos. It will not be

until we all reconcile ourselves with our purpose,

realign with our fates, that the world will be able to

heal once again. I will await that day when my

fellow guardians return to grace.

Soul of the Stars,

If you are reading this, know that a great deal

of wealth lays in your hands. For in these pages,

I have placed my faith and love. I place reflections

of wrongs healed, seeds of creation, and hope for

the future.

It falls upon you to protect the secrets within.

To use each to fix that which I have left broken.

Maleah closed the book and leaned against the window.

Was this what the woman spoke of? Fixing what the author had broken? She sounded crazy, even in the silence of the room. Shaking her head she tried to shake the unnerving feeling growing inside her. How was she to fix anything? She was nothing, less than nothing. A prisoner on the run.

Was she valuable? Sure in the twisted ways the king deems anyone valuable. And surely, the woman didn't mean her personally to fix it.

Her head spun and her shoulders slacked as if pressed down with a heavyweight.

She snorted. Who was she kidding? It was her godless world that was broken. Filled with Blessed who sold their souls through fealty. Her world was ruled by the ungodly and was ravaged by the gifts of those who relisted in the pain of others.

And the guardians the author spoke of, that was a fancy word for god. The gods who fell from grace. Which meant she possessed a god's diary.

Tired and hungry, she replaced everything back inside the bag. Saving the book for last and rereading the first entry again before putting it away. She would need time to understand just how much responsibility had fallen onto her. Would need time to be certain that it was a god's diary and she hadn't just made it up.

The door to the room clicked open and the scent of food warmed her. Crawling to the fireplace, Maleah took the beef stew Rhys offered and sipped the wine Cam brought. She half-listened as they told her tales of the city and the dimwittedness of its inhabitants.

Her head was still with the book. Every year she spent disowning the gods was wiped away. Despite her resentment, she was forced to accept one simple truth:

All the stories were true.