Land of the Lost

Azariah winced slightly when Lynn asked if Rhys was leaving. “Um…she…wait..” She spoke too late, Lynn was already down the hallway talking to Rhys. Azariah looked over Rhys’ body language as the two spoke she looked to the pack full of supplies on her back. This wasn’t her. Azariah pulled her eyes away when Rhys looked to her, she felt his overwhelming heavy pit in her stomach. She looked to Lynn as she placed her hand on her shoulder, her eyes wandered to Rhys once more and then back to Lynn’s eyes. “Y-yeah, sure she’ll be okay…” She spoke, her voice soft. She didn’t believe it. Rhys was out of her league here. She was venturing out of her comfort zone.

Azariah reluctantly walked down the hallway with Lynn. She listened as Lynn spoke of the ice climbing and then she stated that she wanted to say her farewells to Bonnie. Azariah only nodded. She moved into her room and grabbed her pack, she slipped the scroll from the safe in the floor and then she was out front. She stared over the city and caught eye of Rhys leaving with a small group of healers, five in total. “Good luck, Rhys….” She whispered softly, worried.

Azariah waited for Lynn and then when she returned she began the walk toward the tunnel. She paused as they stepped from the gates. She closed her eyes for a long moment and then the sound of Ezo roaring came from the distance. He soared high in the sky and landed with one quick swoop of his wings. He growled playfully and snorted at Azariah. He looked her over for a moment before he looked to Lynn. He then picked them both up and tossed them to his back before he turned his head and looked to Azariah the best he could, awaiting her command. Azariah took in a breath she had looked at the scroll, “North to the Temple of Thalor.” She spoke and as the words rolled over her tongue Ezo burst into the sky. She held on tightly as they flew upward. They soared toward one of the tallest peaks. As they grew closer to their destination, after about two hours of flight. Ezo whined, his wings were beginning to ice over, ice lined his snout and horns. He pulled down for a landing. The landing was rough, the beast groaned. Azariah was thrown from his back in the landing. She landed in deep powder a good 15 feet away.

Ezo whined and searched for her until he lifted her from the deep snow. His wings were stiff as he looked to her, he glanced to Lynn. Azariah pet his snout, “Get to the warmth my friend.” She spoke, “Thank you, I know you’ve brought us as far as you can.” She watched as the dragon flew away clumsily from his frozen wings. Azariah then looked to Lynn. “Alright, now we climb.” She spoke as she began the trek up the side of the mountain. Azariah’s teeth chattered, her long hair had frost on it already from the cold. She climbed through the waist deep snow until they came to a frozen water fall. She pulled her pack from her back and pulled out a few ice picks and attachments to put onto their shoes. “Here.” She spoke as she attached hers. “These help you keep your grip.” She then handed Lynn her set of ice picks, “These help you climb.” She gave a weak smile before she turned to the ice wall. She slammed the pick into the wall and with that she began to climb. It was strategic and slow. She’d look down and check on Lynn every now and then, calling to her asking her if she was doing okay. Nearly an hour later they summited the waterfall. Azariah came to the top and as she climbed up over the ledge she stood, her breaths panted as she lifted her eyes. They still had several miles to go before they would make it to the temple. Her body shivered. She reached down and pulled Lynn up over the edge. “O-okay.” She stuttered from the cold. She crossed her arms over her body, tucking her head down. Now that they were on top of the summit the wind was relentless. Azariah leaned into the wind as she pushed forward.

Azariah turned her head to the side as Lynn asked for shelter. “There should be a cave!” She called out, “Somewhere up here!” She turned just as the Saber Tooth Tiger pounced Lynn. She winced to the cry and pulled her bow. A huge gust of wind knocked her forward as the Tiger threw Lynn against the tree. She heard Lynn scream her name. She pulled the arrow back and release it. It flew through the air and sliced into the chest of the beast. It let out a roar and turned, lowering its body. It snarled as it barreled toward Azariah. She pulled another arrow and released it, sending this one directly to the tiger’s heart as the beast leaped into the air for the attack. Azariah held up her arms as the tiger landed on her with its heavy weight. She groaned as she moved from beneath the carcass. She fought to push it from her body, he was nearly double her weight. Azariah slipped from beneath him, her eyes fell to her bow. She pulled it from beneath his body, it was cracked in the center. She held the bow for a moment, her eyes filled with a sense of sadness as she looked over the beautiful bow.

She then shook her head and rushed over to Lynn, tossing her broken bow to the ground. “Lynn.” She stumbled in the deep snow. “Come on.” She helped her to her feet, she could see the blood leaking from her armor, the bend in the armor from the tiger’s strong jaw. “We are almost to a cave, I know it.” She gave a nod. “Come on.” She wrapped her arm around Lynn’s waist and helped her forward passed the body of the Saber.

Azariah limped slightly as she pushed through the snow, the Saber’s claw had cut into her thigh when he landed on her, but she would be alright. Azariah held her free arm up, blocking the snow as it blew against her face. They pushed along until they came to a huge cave in the face of the mountain. Azariah’s body was threatening to lock up on her. She could barely breathe from the cold air that threatened her body. She rummaged around in the cave, the elves during the summer stocked it with plenty of wood for the harsh winters. She grabbed a few logs and held her hand against the log. Her lips were turning a slight blue from the cold, her skin pale. A slight spark came from Azariah’s hand and eventually that fire sparked to life.

“Let me see.” She spoke, her hands trembling. She pulled her gloves off as she carefully pulled at the bent metal of the gauntlet. Azariah pulled a few medical supplies from her pack and winced as she looked to the torn flesh. She shivered as she pulled away Lynn’s undershirt looking closer at the wound. “This isn’t good…” She spoke softly. She poured water over the wound to clean it and then packed it with cloth to slow the bleeding. Azariah then began to wrap the wound the best she could. She didn’t have a kit for stitching. She’d stopped the bleeding though, and the herbs she’d packed in beneath the cloth would help the wound heal. She looked to Lynn with worried eyes for a moment before she placed her hand over the wound. Azariah shut her eyes as she focused, she whispered a few Elvish words to herself as she held her hand there. A warmth would have surrounded the wound for Lynn. Azariah kept her hand here for awhile, a gentle orange glow from her hand. She wasn’t a healer, but, she could perform some healing. She leaned back after a few minutes and leaned against the cave wall. Blood leaked from her thigh to the rocky cave floor. Her eyes fluttered slightly. The use of her magic without her restored powers drained her. “That should work…” She whispered softly as she looked to the flickering flames. “We have…about 6 more miles to the temple..”

Azariah winced as she watched Lynn cauterize the wound. She looked to her in her lap as she asked about the coats. “There should be something in here…” She spoke softly. “Rest, Lynn.” She brushed her hair from her face gently. Azariah soon drifted off into a slumber, the use of her magic caused her to fall unconscious.

Azariah woke not too long after. She looked around the cave, the fire was still burning, though it was on the verge of going out. She looked to her lap, the warmth of Lynn. She stared to her for a long moment before she carefully slipped from beneath her. Azariah stepped further back into the cave where huge wooden chests were kept. She flipped the chest open and pulled out a parka. It was thick with fur on the inside to keep the warmth in. She rummaged through and found another parka. Azariah came back to the fire and threw on another log before she pulled a pot from the chest. She tossed in some dried fruits and oats and poured in a bit of water. Azariah waited as the oats cooked. She looked to Lynn and sat down near her side. She grasped her arm and unwrapped it carefully. “Sorry…” She spoke softly. “I need to get more medicine in it…to keep it from getting infected.” She mashed up a few more herbs and squeezed the juice over the wound before she packed it once more and wrapped it up tight.

Azariah pulled the pot of oats from the fire. “You should eat, Lynn.” She spoke softly and poured the oats into a cup. She carefully wrapped the parka over Lynn’s shoulders before she stood and stumbled slightly. She pulled on her own parka and sat back down near the fire, sipping on her cup of oats. After the fire began to lull she let out a soft sigh. “Okay, we need to keep moving.” She gave a nod and stood, she was favoring her leg that had the gash in it.

Azariah stepped from the cave and back into the blizzard. She held her hand up as it beat against the parka. Though, with the thick layer on it wasn’t nearly as bad. Azariah pushed through the snow, her breathing was heavy with the thin air. They pushed on for a little over an hour, Azariah was shivering again at this point, her body shook and quaked, her hair was once again frozen.

Azariah stumbled slightly and fell to her knees, her body was giving in, her systems were trying to shut down. She pushed herself back up, determined. There had to be another shelter soon. Somewhere…She wouldn’t make it much longer in the cold.

A gust of wind blew Azariah backward, she stumbled into Lynn and gripped onto her weakly. “Lynn…” She winced as she tried to regain her balance as another harsh gust of wind sliced through the air, tossing snow flakes like razor blades into their faces. Then, suddenly the world grew quiet. The snow ceased to fall, the wind disappeared. The deep grey sky lightened slightly and a figure came from the depths of the snow. A knight clad in silver armor. His helmet had extensions on either side that resembled wings. The face of the helmet came together like a mask, only allowing an opening for the two holes of his eyes. His armor was thick, yet he moved easily, the armor did not hold a single icicle or even a trace of frost. He had two swords attached to his back at diagonal angles. He stood tall compared to Azariah and Lynn, a good 6’5” or so. The man held his hand out, his eyes were icy blew within the shadows of his helm.

Azariah’s eyes fluttered, the cold was eating away at her, slowly but surely, she wouldn’t last long. The knight placed his hand on Lynn’s shoulder, instantly a wave of warmth rushed across Lynn’s body melting away any frost or ice that had formed upon her. He looked to Azariah then, whom was slipping slowly, circling around a dark hole of shadows, her hands clutched onto Lynn’s parka, holding on, though her grip was loosening as her consciousness threatened its existence. The knight reached to Azariah and lifted her easily away from Lynn. The ice that had formed on her hair, the thin layer that had formed across her cheekbones, it all melted away. Her shivering slowed. The knight nodded to Lynn, “Come with me.” His voice spoke, it was deep and seemed to reverberate off of the surrounding snow and mountains.

The knight turned with Azariah held cradled in his arms, her head hung loosely, her body finally gave in to the call of unconsciousness.



“Do you remember the gods?” A man asked. Her father sat before her around a fire, a smile on his lips. “Do you, Azariah?”

Azariah was young, around 6 years old. She held her father’s dagger in her hands, her fingertip traced over the inscriptions. “It’s hard, father.” She spoke and looked up to him. “To remember them all.”

Her father chuckled, “Do you know the god that forged that blade?” He asked his blue eyes piercing as he watched his daughter.

“Ummm….” Azariah thought, she bit her lip slightly as she slid the dagger away, “Um…I…” She stared into the flames and then looked to her father. “I’m not sure, father…I…I can’t remember.”

Her father took the dagger gently and pointed to the symbol that was on the side of the sheath, it looked much like a snowflake. “Rellavar Danuvien.” He watched as his daughter’s face filled with realization, as she remembered the name.

“The god of frost, the protector of the elements.” Azariah spoke a smile on her lips. “When you traveled to grandfather’s tomb to hide the ancient relic….Rellavar was there, he saved you.” Azariah smiled.

Her father nodded and grinned, “Yes, that he did. This blade is very special, one day Azariah this blade will be yours and if ever you are in need, Rellavar will protect you, as he did me.”

“Hopefully she isn’t ever in need of Rellavar’s saving.” Her mother walked up to the fire, a platter of food in her hands. “Come, dinner is ready.”

“Rellavar….” Azariah whispered her eyes fluttered open. She took in a gasp, she was very aware of the gash in her leg now. It stung, it burned like fire. Rellavar had carried Azariah through the storm, he’d led Lynn to the Temple of Thalor. Once Rellavar had gotten the two to safety he’d vanished into the shadows of the tomb…

“Lynn…” Azariah gasped and then winced as Lynn helped pull her to her feet. She glanced to her wound, the blood leaked from it now that her body was warmed. “I…didn’t think it was that bad…” Azariah whispered as she limped over to the bench with Lynn’s aid. She glanced around the temple, she knew it. From her father’s stories. He was always the most colorful story teller, he really painted the world for her. Sometimes her father would use the flames of the fire to tell his stories, morph the flickering flames into a face or an object. It was something that Azariah had tried, but never really learned, her father was the only elf she’d ever seen hold the ability to truly control the flames. Azariah stifled a cry as Lynn pulled back her clothing to inspect the wound, it was as if her bone was shattered her muscle ripped to shreds. Though, this was not the case, it was just an incredibly deep wound. The cold had kept her mind from it. The cold had hidden the severity of the wound.

Azariah watched Lynn as she heated up the pouch of water, she knew this wasn’t going to be pleasant. It was then that Lynn asked who the man was. Azariah remembered now, she remembered the storm dying down the god that stepped from the mound of white snow. “Rellavar Danuvien….he…” Azariah let out a cry of pain, she leaned forward and grit her teeth as Lynn poured the hot water over her wound. Tears welled up in her eyes as she stifled back another scream. She leaned back harshly, slamming her back against the wall.

“R-Rellavar…he…is a god.” Azariah said with a slight whimper in her voice. “The god of frost, the protector from elements.” She whispered, her voice seemed to echo against the stone walls. She grit her teeth as Lynn dabbed at the wound, she pressed her head back against the wall hard, trying to focus.

She glanced to Lynn as she asked the next question. “This is a burial chamber.” She spoke softly. “It is more than that, it is a temple. Once long ago Rellavar was buried here, it is said that deep within the temple his body is encased within a casket made of ice. Though, I’ve never seen it. We make a yearly trek to the temple, during the summer months, to pay thanks to Rellavar for his protection. During a harsh winter it is said that he keeps us safe from the cold…” She paused as she remembered the overwhelming feeling of warmth that covered her body as Rellavar had picked her up. Azariah balled up her hands into fists as Lynn tied the cloth around her thigh, she gasped, choking back another whimper, holding it in.

Azariah took her hand and leaned heavily against her. How could she have not felt this? She shuddered slightly, her body fighting against her as she took her first few steps. Azariah chuckled when Lynn said they would have to thank Rellavar, the smile stayed on her lips for a moment as she was silent. “Rellavar knows that you are thankful. He’s still here.” She glanced around the room with a slight smile on her lips. “He’s watching over us.” She nodded and then let out a soft chuckle. “I must, sound like a lunatic huh?” She looked away almost ashamed. “The gods, our gods.” She glanced to Lynn. “Our gods are a very real thing, unlike the human god that they believe in. Our gods intervene when necessary. They assist….Like Rellavar, our gods are here to protect us, to guide our souls.”

Azariah pulled her dagger and glanced to it, looking over the beautiful elvish inscriptions. “This blade was forged by Rellavar and given to my father. Rellavar saved my father when he made this trek as well, though, when my father came he ventured here to place the very relic that we are here to retrieve. It is one of the youngest relics to my people, though it holds great power.” They approached a door that was sealed with elvish writing scribed into it. A slot was upon one of the stone doors. “This dagger offers passage.” Azariah spoke as she slipped her dagger into the slot. The blade began to glow a beautiful blue for a moment before all of the inscriptions upon the door lit. Suddenly the doors pushed open leaving the dagger in Azariah’s hand.

Azariah leaned against Lynn, thankful for her aid as they descended down into the tomb. The walls were all made of a cold stone that was a bluish color, the floor looked icy with the sheen that shone off of it. Torches were lit all down the stairwell as they came down into an open room. “I’m not sure of what was Relic is, as my father never spoke of it. But, it will be in the burial chamber of Rellavar….deep within the tomb…”

Azariah chuckled at Lynn’s comment about how selfish humans can be. “Humans do not know the true meaning of thanking someone. They do not know true sacrifice.” She spoke as she limped along down the hall. Azariah looked to the beautiful walls of the temple. She reached her hand out and touched it gently, it was cool to the touch, icy even. “This tomb houses several of my ancestors of the Thalor bloodline. This is where my father and mother are buried as well. I too one day will be buried here, as will the king. This tomb hold a total of three gods to protect our souls…” Azariah paused as she heard the whispers. She furrowed her brows as she made out the words. “Lynn!” She cried as Lynn was ripped away from her, she stumbled and fell against the wall harshly and nearly collapsed. Blood soaked into the bandage on her thigh from the sudden force.

Lynn returned to her side, Azariah could see a fear in her eyes, an uncertainty. “Tetherin….” Azariah whispered, “I heard the voices, yes.” She winced as they made it to the huge room with the bridge that led over a huge deep gap that seemed to fall for miles. “Tetherin is one of the three gods that protect our souls that resides here. Tetherin Veralde, the master of blades. He is the god of blade singers, warriors. He is there at your side in battle, each battle. He is your light.” Azariah had memorized the gods and their locations with her father. He drilled the information into her. “The trial that the voices, the souls….spoke of, I am not sure when, but you will be places on trial, Lynn.” Azariah pulled away as they approached the shrine. She limped forward, nearly falling. The pain in her leg burned, it brought tears to her eyes as she put her full weight on it.

The statue was of an elf that was kneeling, within his hands he held a strange object that looked to be a grip of some sort. Azariah knelt down before the statue. Her breaths trembled as she looked into the eyes of the stone piece, the eyes were made of marble and appeared as real as could be. Marked with magic. “The second god, you already know, that is Rellavar, he seems to quite like you, otherwise he may have left you in the storm. This is good…” She paused a moment, thinking. “The third god is Naralis Analor, she is a god of healing, or she may ease your pain as death overtakes your body and your soul slips into the next realm.” She took in a slow even breath and allowed her eyes to close. Azariah began to whisper elvish words, a prayer. She placed her hands over the hands of the statue over the grip that rest firmly in the statue’s hands. As Azariah spoke her prayer, as the elvish words rolled over her lips like a sweet dance beneath the moonlight, a glow began to form beneath her hands from within the hands of the statue.

Azariah opened her eyes just as a huge blast swept the room, all of the flames extinguished leaving the two in utter darkness. “Lynn?” Azariah whispered as she glanced around. A few pebbles clicked against the rocks as they fell down the gaping hole beneath the bridge.

“You are not worthy.” The voice was deep, hateful. “You do not belong here!” Sparks flew across the marble floor as a sword was slammed down into it. Flames rose up from the sword illuminating the silhouette of the knight that stood before Azariah and Lynn. As the flames flickered up the sword his helmet came into view, it looked much like the skull of a dragon, worn on the front to ward of enemies. “You are not pure.” His voice was booming.

“She will prove herself.” A familiar voice, Rellavar. “She will.” Suddenly another blast of energy. The flames flickered back on. Rellavar stood before Lynn his winged helmet glistened in the light of the torches. “You have your hands full, young warrior, Tetherin is not one to have the attention of.” He spoke as he offered her a hand and lifted her to her feet. “As do you young Thalor, you’ve much to do with such small amount of time.” He helped Azariah to her feet. “I have warded off Tetherin for now, but he will not go far, he will be back.” He touched Azariah on her shoulder, her eyes glistened with a beautiful icy light as he touched her. “Find the relic, I will guide you.” He whispered into her ear before he disappeared into a flurry of snowflakes.

Azariah gasped as her eyes returned to the normal color. She looked around and stared to Lynn. “I know where the relic is.” She spoke, “We have to hurry. Tetherin will kill you.” She took a step forward and grit her teeth, she limped as she started her way toward the left, toward one of the several doorways. She stumbled slightly as she pulled her dagger and inserted it into the key hole to unlock the door. It pushed open to reveal another set of stairs. “We have no time….” Azariah spoke and looked to Lynn, she sheathed her dagger and took another step forward, more blood leaked into the bandaging.

Azariah stumbled forward, “Lynn!” She cried out as she was attacked by the woman, Naralis. She pushed herself from the wall and stepped forward as the two exchanged blows, Lynn was so swift in her movements it was like a dance. Though, Naralis parried every move. Azariah watched as Lynn managed to knock Naralis to her back on the ground, Lynn’s blade against her neck. She listened to the words as they came over Lynn’s lips, as the two looked to her.

Naralis looked over Lynn for a moment, “I see what he sees in you.” She spoke as she stepped forward, “He is soft….you are weak.” She stepped forward and shoved Lynn out of the way. “You too are weak young Thalor.” She smirked as she reached her hand out toward Azariah. “Do you think you’re worthy of the relic?” She tilted her head to one side slightly.

Azariah held her dagger at her side, her face determined, yet in pain. “I will prove it.” She spoke as she looked up to the god that stood before her. The blade shined a bright blue along the inscriptions.

“You do have the key.” Naralis spoke as her eyes looked to the dagger. She held her hand that was outstretched into a fist then. Shadows began to seep from the floor, crawling up Azariah’s legs. Azariah let out a cry, she pulled back trying to escape. The shadows felt like tar, like quicksand, the heaviest weights were attached to her feet. She slashed at the shadows only to find that the shadows leaped to her arm. Azariah screamed as she fought against the shadow she thrashed against it as it crawled up her body. It hugged around her chest, the overwhelming sensation that she was being suffocated overtook her. She began gasping, trying to gain air. Naralis chuckled and released the fist. “Weak.” She spoke as she watched Azariah fall to the floor coughing and choking.

“Naralis.” A voice spoke, a flurry of snowflakes entered the room and Rellavar appeared. “Can’t you see that she is in need of your help?” He spoke, “It is our duty to protect her.”

Naralis chuckled and looked to him a smirk on her lips. “Our duty? You have gone soft, Rellavar.” She then looked to Azariah as Rellavar moved and stood between the two. She held her hand up and shadows began to engulf Azariah once more, crawling up her body as she lay on the floor. “You cannot save her, Rellavar, she is weak. Look at her.” She spoke as she stepped forward and knelt next to Azariah as she tried to move. “But, if you insist.” Naralis placed her hand on Azariah’s forehead. The shadows melted into the ground and a flash of light came from her body.

When Azariah’s eyes focused again the gods were gone. She took in quick breaths, she could still feel the shadows choking the life from her body. She pushed herself to her feet slowly and looked to Lynn. She glanced to her leg, the pain was gone. She untied the blood soaked cloth and touched her mended skin, a scar remained. Azariah took in a shaken breath. “Thank you, Naralis.” She spoke softly and then whispered a few words in elvish. “Lynn…” Azariah stepped forward. She held the grip in her hand, it resembled the grip to a bow, but, the rest of the bow was missing. An indent in the side of the grip had metal prongs to hold something. Azariah placed the grip into her pack before she gave Lynn a nod. “Let’s get moving then.”

Azariah walked through the humid forest her eyes looked to the trees, it was beautiful. Her father told her that within the tombs miraculous things happen. She’d believe him, but seeing it made it even more real. She stopped at another door and pulled her dagger. “Ready?” She asked. She then inserted the dagger into the keyhole and pushed the door forward. A gust of cold air pushed against Azariah. She shivered and glanced to Lynn before she stepped forward and down a spiraling staircase. This part of the tomb had snow in it, ice. It was cold.

Closer.

Azariah heard the god’s voice as he guided her forward. She stepped into a huge open room with several statues that were knelt with their hands together, praying. They were in a circle around a casket made of ice. The body could be seen concealed inside. Azariah stepped forward, her breaths shuddering. She couldn’t believe that she stood here. She looked to the beautiful art of the statues as she stepped forward to Rellavar’s casket. She glanced to Lynn, her breath could be seen in the air. She then turned and looked to the casket again.

The grip.

Rellavar spoke again. Azariah pulled the grip from her pack. She looked back to the casket something on the surface of the ice began to glow a light blue. She reached forward and lifted a beautiful blue jewel into her fingertips. The jewel began to pulse as she then placed it into the grip. Azariah held onto the grip, it felt warm, as though she held her hands against a warm stove. Suddenly a blast came from Azariah, a flash of white light. She let out a cry as she was thrown backward a few feet. She landed on her back, her hand still curled around the relic. Her body convulsed, her breathing was quick. Her brows pulled together. Blood began to trickle from her nose as she lay unconscious…

**

Azariah flew through the air, plummeting toward the ground. She screamed as she fell, only to be stopped just inches from her death. She looked to her hand, she held the grip tightly still. “Where am I?” She questioned, her voice echoed.

A deep menacing chuckle followed. “You cannot have the relic without a test, young Thalor.” Tetherin’s voice boomed.

Azariah spun around, fire began to surround her. She felt the smoke begin to steal away her oxygen. She took off in a sprint, screams surrounded her. She ran as fast as she could, her eyes wide, her heart threatened to escape from her chest. She could feel the heat of the flames against her skin. She felt a harsh shove from behind her and she went toppling down a hill. Azariah cried out as she slammed against the bottom. She lay on her back, her breaths heavy.

“Get up. You are weak!” The voice growled.

Azariah shakily got to her feet. She pulled her dagger. “Come and get me.” She spoke as she held her side.

The voice chuckled then, “I want your shield. She must prove herself, or you will both die.”