Nightmares at Twilight

As the two reached the edge of the ruined outer keep, the sun leaving only a few red glowing streaks in the sky behind them as night set in, raised voices echoed faintly across the distance. Walking beside this new girl, Diana, as he strode back towards the camp as though he was leading a guest into a royal hall, the boy was quite distracted, watching the dim twilight reflect in her eyes and on her hair, paying little attention to the conversation they heard. Until he recognized the voice that was speaking as his own commander’s, and looked up as they approached the fire, that was half hidden in the ruined inner keep.
“…After we got the news, the army set out almost immediately to hurry to the defenses and fill in the breach. It looked very bleak from the beginning, when the Spire fell, but as we got closer and realized that they were going to march into Kairok territory, the huscarl general, Aaron, had to make a tough decision. Rather than go and fill the breach that was here, in this castle, the army went west to Count Kairok’s aid and reinforcement. But he sent us here, us three, to scout and discovered what we could about the attacks…as now you see us here.”
As he finished, Diana and then Gaeljwen strode into the glow of the fire, interrupting and causing the three persons sitting there to look up with mixed expressions. Fraeduin stopped his story telling in time to see Gaeljwen, and cast a wary and surprised look at the Amaras pupil. However, when Asa spoke, his mind was more at ease.
“Ah, Diana.” The Amaras warrior smiled faintly, gesturing for her to sit beside him. “You returned! Anything to be eaten in these frozen wastes?”
Diana smiled back to him, stepping lightly around the fire to sit beside her teacher. “No, nothing teacher. Not even a white hare or crow to be cooked this far north!”
Asa chuckled. “Perhaps these northern lands just require a change of tactics from us, but it’s of no matter. We have enough provisions for a while yet.” With a grunt, he reached over and picked up one of the rough packs beside the fire, reaching in for the supplies.
A little awkwardly, Gaeljwen sat down by Jyon, still watching the beautiful girl across from him. It took him a minute to hear Jyon’s voice, though his friend whispered in his ear.
“Who in blazes is that?!” Jyon asked with a tone of incredulous wonder in his voice. “Who is she?”
Gaeljwen shrugged, honestly at a loss. “Her name is Diana…apparently she’s his pupil he spoke of.”
Jyon snorted. “Apparently.” Both boys said nothing as Fraeduin suddenly coughed and cleared his throat.
“So. This is your pupil, master Amaras?” The huscarl commander nodded in Diana’s direction.
Asa looked over at him. “Yes. This is Diana. She is my charge and my daughter in all but blood.”
Content to see that Diana was with the Amaras, Fraeduin relaxed visibly. “I see.”
“So that’s your tale, then?” Asa changed the subject, offering the commander a piece of dried meat and hard bread from his pack. After being nudged a couple of times, Gaeljwen also took a hint and reached for his pack, dividing its contents between the two youths.
“All that I’m going to tell you.” Fraeduin returned with a grim chuckle. The Amaras took the hint.
“Very well.” He smiled grimly, “It’s fair enough.”
“It is. Amaras Asa, don’t think me suspicious or or impolite…but I’m going to ask that you don’t go anywhere tonight, and that you might consider returning back into civilized Savarica with me in the morning. We’ve seen…all we need to see here. You might be a God-sent blessing to us about now, you know.”
Asa seemed to think on that for a long moment before replying. “That is what I do, master huscarl. It’s my job to bless others as I’ve been blessed.”
Fraeduin didn’t seen to know what to make of that, and simply shrugged and nodded. “Fair enough.”
“So I’m under arrest for trespasssing? Or for being suspect of aiding the invasion?”
The poor huscarl muttered under his breath, unable to come up with the right words. “Ach, master Amaras, don’t get angry with me. It’s only my job, you know! I’ve got no choice but to at least report you, this is a bad place to be wandering about in right now. Besides, I know certain person would give a lot to see you about now.” Fraeduin offered.
At this, Asa’s smile disappeared, and his expression became a little dark. “…Very well. I will stay, Fraeduin. But don’t press me, or Diana. If we’re called to leave and go somewhere else, then we will go. Regardless of countesses and kinds and dragons.”
The huscarl commander studied the Asa carefully for a moment, taking a deep breath. Though Fraeduin would die to protect his homeland like any other faithful carl, he was not interested in the least with hindering this Amaras. People that hindered Amaras were neither wise nor alive.
“Fair enough.” Was all he managed to get out. They seemed to agree on that.

The talk wore on a little longer around the fire, with the three Vadirska scouts enjoying the company of these new found friends, after both were willing to agree that the other wasn’t dangerous or treacherous. After the small meal, the talk began to drift off. Gaeljwen kept his eyes almost constantly on the lovely creature sitting across from him, looking at her through the flames and letting his heart race. Once in a while she would catch his gaze, and before he could look quickly away, she would flash a polite smile for him before paying attention to the conversation again.
Though Jyon spoke up once in a while to make some remark or ask some question, Gaeljwen kept entirely silent through the rest of the night, far too busy watching. He noticed every time she looked away, following her eyes as she would lose interest occasionally and study the ceiling, the ruins, the fire. No one seemed to miss his interest in the talk. Diana did not speak much either, letting her teacher do most of the explaining and listening, something he was apparently good at. All three of the newcomers couldn’t help but feel as though this middle-aged kindly gentleman didn’t seem at all to be one of the ferocious, feared Amaras warriors that were in the history books and fireside tales. All the same, the long, silver sword that hung at his side constantly was warning enough. All three were careful not to be disrespectful, even while they kept both Amaras under close watch.
As the night hours wore on, it was perhaps an hour from midnight when Diana suddenly spoke up, interrupting her teacher for a moment.
“I think I’ll sleep for the night, Asa.” She said quietly, standing up. Stifling a yawn, she reached for her bedroll.
Asa nodded. “Very well. Sleep well, we’ll probably not be going anywhere tomorrow morning…no need to prepare to travel immediately. Yet.”
“Well good. I think I’ll sleep in for once.” Her eyes laughed. “Good evening.”
As she disappeared out of the fire’s light and went to go find someplace to sleep deeper into the ruins of the keep, Fraeduin raised an eyebrow.
“That’s quite a young one you’ve got there, master Amaras.” He commented, throwing another piece of wood on the fire. Thankfully with fallen pieces of the castle around them, there was no lack of firewood.
Asa watched her go and agreed. “Yes I do.” He paused. “I found her about five year ago in the Hestyri tropical lands, a fisherman’s daughter, a year’s journey almost from here, in the far south. When her parents found me, they wanted me to see her, knowing that she bore the mark of an Amaras on her forehead. So I took her as my pupil, and we’ve traveled together ever since.” He looked into the flames, as if trying to decide what to say.
“She is a healer, and an excellent shot with a bow and arrow that she uses to hunt. One day I expect she will make a strong mage in the Arts of the Light.”
“In magic, you mean?” Jyon looked to where the girl had disappeared into the night with renewed wonder. There were a couple of sages and Art wielders in Savarica, but not many, and usually they were in high royal courts and in the big cities, respected and powerful persons of knowledge and learning.
Asa turned and looked almost narrowly at the boy, so that Jyon turned red and looked away.
“Magic? It depends on what you mean by ‘magic,’ my young friend.” The Amaras went on. “The sorcerers and warlocks of the mountains that cast dark spells and receive strength from the Dark One of the world, is that magic? Or perhaps when God Almighty intervenes on our earth with a miracle, opening roads under the seas or turning rivers to blood, or casting unnatural plagues of fire and darkness upon His enemies…is that ‘magic?’”
To this, the boy was kept silent. All three of them listened intently to what the Amaras had to say, as he went on, apparently on a subject of great interest to him.
“My good soldier of Vadirska, if that be the case, than the world is full of ‘magic.’ What almost everyone in the world thinks of when they see some kind of supernatural power or unusual gifting, is ‘magic,’ this ambiguous word that covers all things strange and supernatural in strength. However, supernatural power exists everywhere! God and the Evil One are locked even now in a war that has lasted for thousands of years in our world, constantly using what we call supernatural power. If Diana has the power to heal people with the gift God gave her, or can raise her hand and part the sea, does that make her ‘magical?’ Or gifted? None of the Arts, Good or Evil, are quite what we call ‘magic,’ young one.”
There was a dead silence after this, except for the crackling of the fire and the vague blowing of the cold wind just outside, in the pitch black night. After a long moment, the Amaras sighed.
“I am sorry…what was it? Jyonahal? …I did not mean to scold you. I treated you like one of my pupils, which you are not. Forgive me, I should not have lectured you as I would Diana.” Asa bowed his head in Jyon’s direction, almost as if giving him permission to strike him for the insult.
The Vadirska recruit, who had been silent and wide-eyed during the entire speech, now shook his head vigorously, his mind still whirling after Asa’s reply. “No no no, not at all! I merely asked.” He shrugged, fumbled for another answer, and then fell silent at last. Again, a quiet reigned.
“I think it might be wise if we all turned in for the night.” Fraeduin suddenly interjected, which was as if to say to his two recruits, “Go to bed.”
Asa nodded. “Very well. Probably wise.” He reached for his bedroll and spread it out by the dying fire. “Again, I’m sorry Jyon, for…”
“No, please, it was nothing! Forgotten.” He offered the Amaras a rather quaky smile before spreading out his own bedroll. Gaeljwen was already lying down, looking up at the dim stars through the large cracks in the roof of the fallen inner keep.
After a few minutes, it grew quiet, and the fire slowly died out, leaving them in the chill darkness. It wasn’t for a while until Gaeljwen heard his comrade whispered beside him.
“Gael? You asleep?”
“Yep.” Came the reply. He got a shove for it.
“How about it?” There was a pause. “An Amaras…and a girl! Here, of all places! And…the Spire fallen! Are we dreaming?”
“We just might be.” Gaeljwen whispered in reply, half believing it. “What in the blazes is happening?”
“I wish I knew…but an Amaras. Here! In Savarica! Two of them, even!”
“The girl’s just a pupil.” Gaeljwen put in, for some odd reason, he didn’t seem half as excited as his friend.
“I know I know…and a beautiful one at that, though.” He couldn’t help but add, smiling in the dark. Seeing that the other young recruit didn’t seem interested in talking that night, though, Jyon shrugged and turned over, to try and get some sleep himself.

Gaeljwen was far from sleep, even though he was exhausted. A tangle of unanswered questions flew through his mind, and it didn’t help now that his mind was half in burning pieces after laying his gaze upon that wonderful angel named Diana.
Get a hold of yourself, idiot! The recruit informed himself inwardly, it’s just a girl! You can’t have your heart blown away by every girl you see! Pay attention! Managing to get more focused for the moment, he tried to unravel the tangle.
An Amaras…that bears the mark I’ve got! And the girl too, apparently. What does that mean? What does that mean for me, particularly?
And then there’s…that dragon footprint. Perhaps we should’ve set up a guard.
Like any kind of guard would stop a dragon.
At any rate, now what are we going to do? Drag these Amaras back in chains to the Countess for suspects?
They had better not put Diana in chains…
When exactly he fell asleep, he wasn’t sure, but eventually his mind began to settle and the exhaustion overcame him. His last confused thoughts were about how she laughed with her eyes…

“TO ARMS! GET YOUR WEAPONS, BOYS!”
Snapping awake instantly, Gaeljwen stumbled up and out of his bed, instinctively reaching for his sword. All of a sudden, someone shouted and screamed, and there was a clash of metal in his ears.
As his eyes adjsuted, Gaeljwen whipped his short sword out of its scabbard and nearly swung at Jyon’s head when his friend materialized out of the dark, his own face like a scared rabbit’s.
“WE’RE UNDER ATTACK!” Fraeduin bellowed from somewhere else in the shadows of the ruins, and several figures dashed around them. Someone struggled somewhere.
“What in the name of…?!” Gaeljwen gasped out, as Jyon nearly stumbled into him. “What happened?! What’s going ON!?”
“I don’t know!” He managed to cough out, “Some kind of…creatures…LOOK OUT!” He pointe vaguely behind Gaeljwen and aimed his bow just over the boy’s shoulder.
Gaeljwen came around swinging, his sword arcing around him at whatever enemy might be trying to sneak up behind him. The ruins dimly glittered in the cold moonlight, and the wind seemed to pick up a little. Both of the boys could just barely see anything at all, but both of them could make out the slender, but sure form of someone hiding in the darkness behind Gaeljwen, raising an arm as if to bring a weapon down on his head.
The thing jumped back lightly when the boy slashed, and suddenly leaped forward, its torn clothes flying as it nearly landed full face on Gaeljwen…until an arrow suddenly appeared in its chest, and the creature awkwardly hit the ground in front of them, dead instantly. More sounds of fighting with something or someone deafened their ears.
Gaeljwen thrust his sword into the things chest again, just to make sure, and then knelt down hurriedly beside it, to get a look at it’s face. He only had to look for a second, before standing back up to look at his comrade with a look of fear.
“Ice elves.” He whispered, and the two stood back to back, scanning the darkness and shivering. Ice elf night raids were the talk of nightmares in outlying villages, like pale wraiths that crept into houses and villages at night to steal, capture and burn. Dim, shadowy shapes flitted here and there in the broken ruins and stone, but nothing that stayed still long enough for Jyon to sight his bow on.
When he heard the twang of a bowstring, both boys instantly ducked, and Gaeljwen heard an arrow fly over his head.
“Quickly! Cover!” Jyon gave him a shove towards the nearest boulder and piece of fallen wall to hide behind, as another arrow flew overhead. They were at a huge disadvantage. The elf raiders could see them, but they could not see the elves. Human eyes were weaker, particularly in the dark.
Gaeljwen managed to snag his shield from the side of the campfire as they dashed for cover, and now held it up partly over both of them.
“There’s one!” Jyon gestured, as a figure dashed out of the snow suddenly towards them, with the starlight glinting on its drawn scimitar.
Gaeljwen caught the blow squarely on his shield and jabbed it back into the creature’s face, bringing a hissing curse from it in its own language. It circled and slashed again, this time faster. The boy had to backpedal frantically to keep up, struggling to parry the bold, quicker strokes. At length he rushed forward and slashed madly, trying to drive the elf back. He did, for a moment, and long enough for Jyonahal to sight his bow vaguely in his direction.
“DUCK!” The boy shouted. Gaeljwen promptly hit the ground, letting his friend’s arrow fly over his head and into the elf. Without further ado, the sword and shield wielding boy ducked back behind the rocks again.
He panted for a moment. “Thank…thank you.” He managed to get out.
The sounds of the others struggling suddenly seemed to stop, causing both boys to look at each other with fear and questions written on their features.
Though an arrow managed to present itself every time one of them dared stick their heads up, for a minute or two, there was only the sounds of some vague scuffling, and that was all. Gaeljwen braced himself, prepared for something to come flying out of the darkness. Jyon’s hand relaxed on the string, though he was poised to shoot at any moment. The wind howled again.
After a long minute, footsteps sounded, crunching on the snow. Gaeljwen jumped and readied himself. That did not sound like an elf. His archer friend continued to survey the darkness with his better eyes.
At length, a dim figure appeared out of the darkness, carrying another person. Gaeljwen put up his shield.
“Drop your weapons, or this one dies.” The icy, silvery tones of an ice elf said, though he was barely distinguishable in the dark. Gaeljwen squinted, trying to see who it was and who he was holding. Had they got Fraeduin? Surely not the Amaras? Surely not…
Then the girl let out a frightened, angry scream, muffled though it was. Gaeljwen’s heart stopped.
He looked back over at Jyon, who was also frozen, unsure of what to do. His mind raced.
When they hesitated, the elf drew a dagger out of his belt, to be seen only as it glittered in the starlight, and held it up to Diana’s throat. Gaeljwen dropped his sword and shield in the snow, instantly.
Realizing that if Gaeljwen was gone he had no choice, Jyon grit his teeth in rage, and dropped his bow also.
The larger, fighting recruit, Gaeljwen, didn’t feel so angry and trapped as he had supposed at first, like he wanted to punch in the elf’s face for cornering him so. But rather, unlike his archer comrade, seeing Diana held with a knife at her throat seemed to drain all the energy and fire out of him, like a man defeated entirely.
When wasn’t surprised when Jyon’s muffled shout of rage was suddenly cut off, and something dark and rough was put over his head. As some elf behind him appeared with the flat of his scimitar blade and knocked the boy on the head, the world went black.