#7 – Shallia

“Follow me, if you would see the Ruins,” She breathed to me, her body glistening in the blinding light of the hazed skies above. I had never before seen such a beauty. Slowly she strode into the water, heading out into the grey lake.

“Will… will He be there?” I asked, knowing that those ancient standing stones were supposedly at the base of the greatest mountains of old, the ColdThrones- mountains said to be guarded by an entity since the mountains were first spoken of. The water was freezing, but I tried my best to follow the bronze- skinned woman who had led me this far. Shallia, so enigmatic, had claimed that she had met the being. Being entranced by her voluptuous physique, I believed her, but now found myself doubting.

“How came you to see what it is said cannot be seen?” I asked. She laughed over her shoulder as a cold breeze rippled the lake’s waters. “I think that it wanted to see me, young mage,” She sighed, the waters seeming to hold her close to the surface, as if her sacrifice of allowing them to lap at her legs was a favour rewarded by defying it’s own nature. I began to realize that I was in to my waist now, and having trouble with my footing in the numbing depths. ” I can suppose why,” I said wryly, but suddenly found her stopped, looking back at me, a faint smile on her face, the first of the ruins beckoning from just beyond her shadow.

With a gesture, an eldrich flourish of witchlight sprung from her hand, catching in the depths of her eyes. My breath rushed out in a gasp.

“Indeed,” she murmured. “He could sense great potential in me, could see the power in me, when I made this trek, three hundred years ago. Now, it is your turn, as I too was guided, so I guide you, and He shall judge for Himself.”

The rest of the journey found me much more… humble.

Category: 2011, Fantasy