Land of the Lost

Azariah faded in and out on consciousness as the battle waged on. She watched as Lynn skillfully fought against the master of blades. Suddenly Lynn was in the cage with her, “Lynn…” She breathed and turned her head into Lynn’s chest, her words sounded as though she was submerged beneath the ocean.

“You would sooner die than allow an elf to die? Hm?” Naralis spoke as she appeared next to Lynn and Azariah in the cage. “You are a warrior of great perseverance for a half elf.” She gave a smile, “It is you who will lead her to victory.” She pressed her hand against Azariah’s forehead and in an instant the world flashed a bright white.

Azariah opened her eyes with a gasp, she was in Lynn’s arms, on the cold floor of the tomb. She could taste blood in her mouth. She sat up slowly. “What…” She looked around, “Was that?” She furrowed her brows as a gust of power swept the room.

“Lynn, the warrior, the shield to young Thalor.” Tethrin’s voice spoke. “It is not a game that I play.” He stood before the two, his sword in its sheath. “Nor do the other gods play games.” He stared to Azariah, “We must be certain that the gift is meant for whom it is given.” He reached forward and touched his hand to Lynn’s forehead, a burst of red energy surrounded her, “Good luck, young warrior.” He spoke as he disappeared into ashes. The red energy dissipated from Lynn’s body.

Azariah turned just as Rellavar appeared before her. He gave a nod and bowed slightly. “I never doubted you.” He stepped forward and placed his hands on Azariah’s shoulders. “You and your shield will fight well together.” He spoke, a burst of white light filled the room as he too disappeared. Azariah stumbled, within her hand she held the grip that she’d placed the jewel in. Though, now from the ends of the grip an icy bow had formed, the grip glowed a gentle blue. Her eyes glowed to match. Azariah took in quick breaths as she stared to the bow, she pulled the string back and an arrow appeared in her grasp, made of ice. She released it and another appeared. Azariah then loosened her grip and the bow melted away, leaving only the grip behind. “Lynn….” Azariah turned and stepped toward her.

Shadows swarmed the room then as Naralis appeared. She stood before the two, “I’ve never seen Tethrin so defeated.” Naralis chuckled, “You’ve impressed me, Lynn.” She reached out and grasped Lynn’s shoulder, her shadowy eyes stared into Lynn’s for a long moment as shadows crawled along her body.

“Lynn!” Azariah called and rushed toward her, she was knocked back by the shadows and then suddenly there was an explosion of power. Azariah held her arm up, shielding her eyes from the bright light. “Lynn!” Azariah ran forward and caught Lynn in her arms. “Lynn…” She breathed, her voice full of worry. The world around them began to spin and morph. Azariah clutched onto Lynn and shut her eyes tightly as darkness surrounded them. Her breaths echoed against the darkness. “Lynn…” She breathed, her voice trembled slightly. The darkness began to melt away slowly the world around them came into view. Azariah glanced around, the cave was around them. The cave they’d taken refuge in. Azariah’s eyes still glowed blue from the power that Rellavar had given her. “Lynn are you alright?” Azariah asked as she looked down to her, she had her in her lap, just like before in the cave when she’d patched up her arm…beautiful glowing blue swirls of lines were on Azariah’s cheekbones adding a beautiful accent to her as she stared down to Lynn awaiting her response.

Azariah furrowed her brows slightly, “Don’t move too quickly, Lynn.” She spoke, her voice worried. “I’m not sure what Tethrin or Naralis did….your eyes…they were glowing…like before.” Azariah’s eyes still held the beautiful blue glow around her pupil. She watched Lynn for a moment listening to her, she gave a soft laugh when Lynn said she never thought she would be in this position. She then gave a grin and nodded. “Yes. The relic.” She spoke and reached into her bag, she pulled the grip out, the beautiful jewel glistened in its seat. Azariah’s eyes glowed a bit more then and the handle began to glow, from the ends of the grip the icy bow began to form, it took a few seconds for Azariah to piece it together with her magic. With each try she would become faster, until it became second nature. Azariah pulled the frosty string back and an icy arrow appeared in her fingertips. She turned and released the arrow into the back of the cave. It punctured through the side of the chest before it melted away, leaving no trace but the hole it had created.

Azariah gave a smile as she then willed the bow away, “This bow belonged to Rellavar, many moons ago he waged a battle against the shadows. He fought both day and night at the top of the peak of Javor to defend his kingdom. This was his weapon.” Azariah spoke she willed it to come back again and inspected the bow. On the tips the ice was shaped into sharp edges, perfect for melee attacks and even stabbing. This time that she brought the bow back it was faster to piece together. Azariah willed it away and once more the bow vanished.

Azariah then took in a slow breath. “Focus.” She spoke softly. “If you focus your power will speak to you, you can will your power to do whatever it is that you can imagine.” Azariah held out her hand, her eyes glowed, changing to an ember color as a fireball appeared in her hand. “Although I am unsure what the gods have awoken within you, but these powers have been with you since birth….but I am certain that Naralis did give you something, she is a strong willed god, capable of many things, even Tethrin gave you something….just as Rellavar gave me his bow, more will over the cold…” Azariah paused for a moment. “Just focus, try to feel the power within you. The world around you vibrates because it senses your power.” Azariah stepped forward and took Lynn’s hands into her own. She could feel the power within Lynn. “I can feel it.” She whispered softly and gave a nod. “Just, try and focus.” Azariah closed her eyes, focusing with Lynn.

Azariah watched, her brows pulled together. “You…you’ll get it.” She gave a nod. “You’re right, I’ve had them my whole life…” She looked to her hands, “The first time I even lit a spark I was overwhelmed. My father was so ecstatic. My mother on the other hand had hoped I would be a healer, away from the dangers.” Azariah sighed softly. “I will help you, Lynn, I promise. I am in debt to you.” She bowed her head slightly. She’d been in such a high amount of danger her whole life, she finally had someone who could keep up, who could help.

Azariah lifted her arm up and stumbled back from the huge gust of air from Ezo’s wings. She chuckled as he howled happily, excited to see them. “He isn’t so scary after all hm?” She grinned as she climbed up. “Nerium, Ezo.” She spoke and held on as they burst into the sky. Azariah leaned into the wind as it pushed against their bodies, it was cold, but didn’t seem nearly a treacherous as when they first flew up. The storm had disappeared. She glanced over her shoulder to Lynn. “We will rest, tomorrow we will need to journey to the far south, the next relic will be in the rainforests.” She called over the wind. Azariah fell silent for the rest of the flight. They landed at the gates to the city and Ezo tossed her off playfully and nudged her, knocking her to her back on the ground. Azariah chuckled as he nuzzled her and growled playfully. She then was lifted up to her feet by his talon.

Azariah nodded to Lynn then and gave a smile as she started into the city. “You, were amazing, you know?” She spoke.

“A complement from Azariah?” A knight chuckled, “You should consider yourself lucky, she doesn’t complement often.” He spoke as he headed to his post.

“Pipe down Reg!” She called to him and shook her head. She shoved her hands into her pocket then and gave a gentle smile. “Though…I don’t…” She let out a slight laugh. “I don’t complement often…” She stopped in her tracks. “I need to go speak with the king, I’m sure you would like to rest, make yourself at home. You know where to find me.” Azariah stepped off toward the royal palace. She walked up the stairs and stepped into the kings quarters, one of the healers was tending to him, mashing up the herbs as instructed. “How are you feeling my king?” Azariah asked as she bowed.

Jonas gave a smile to her, “Much better that you’ve returned safely, my dear. Did you get the relic?” He asked.

Azariah pulled the grip from her pack and held it out, the bow formed almost instantly this time. “Yes.” She replied, her eyes glowing the beautiful blue to match the grip. She allowed the bow to disappear and placed it back in her pack. “I could not have done it without Lynn’s help.”

Jonas grinned as he looked to the beautiful bow, he nodded to her last comment. “She will be a fantastic and welcomed addition to our kingdom.” He spoke, “Now, Azariah, it is becoming late…I must rest.” He coughed a bit.

Azariah nodded, “Of course my king.” She turned and stepped from his chambers. Azariah stepped to her room where she emptied her pack and slipped her jacket off. She lifted her tank and inspected her abdomen in the mirror, a red line, almost like a scratch lined where she was stabbed by Tethrin. She ran her fingertip over the small ridge that it left in her skin and sighed softly. It was real. All of this was real. It wasn’t imagined. She lowered her shirt and stepped back as she slipped her throwing knives from her thigh. She removed her quiver and other such items until she stood in just her pants and tank. Her boots were tucked gently under the bed. Azariah turned and stepped to her workbench. She had the grip sitting out. She began cutting thick leather to create a holster for her new weapon, to put it on her left thigh, easily accessible. She wasn’t in need of a quiver anymore either. Azariah sat at the desk, gently and carefully cutting the material and stitching it together. Soon she began taking a metal needle and sticking it in the flames of the candle to heat it up before she began making inscriptions of elvish prayer upon the leather.

Azariah was nearly finished as she etched in a few more words and designs into the leather. She leaned back in her chair slightly as she thought.

**

“Wine is it now?” A familiar voice spoke, “Not so fast, I’ll make this easy for you.” It was Rovan, he grinned to Lynn as he knocked on the door, he shoved Lynn forward so that she stood before the door. “You’re welcome.” He whispered as he moved down the hallway.

**

Azariah jumped slightly from the loud knock on her door. She furrowed her brows and slipped from the chair, she moved across her small room and pulled the door open carefully. At first she peered out, then her brows rose slightly, a warm smile split her lips. “Lynn.” She spoke, “S-sorry.” She pulled the door open, “You startled me.” She took a step back, “Come on in.” She turned and walked over to the small table that she was crafting on. Azariah paused a moment before she looked back to Lynn, she noticed the wine bottle. “Ah, celebration, yes?” She asked with a grin on her lips. “I myself was celebrating.” She chuckled as she lifted up the holster, she was nearly finished, just a few more etches here and there. She’d worked her family crest into the piece, the owl. It was gorgeous.

“I’ve always loved working with leather.” She spoke softly before she rummaged through a drawer at her work desk. “A drink then.” She gave a nod and gently took the wine bottle from Lynn, she looked to her for a moment before she turned to the table. “I wouldn’t have survived today, Lynn, if it wasn’t for you. My shield.” She smiled as she popped the cork and poured the red liquid into the glasses. She chuckled as she handed the glass over to Lynn, “The gods gave you that name, I believe it is very fitting.” She held her glass up. “To us, we shall end the terror that is the reign of King Lazarus and restore the peace to the lang.” She clinked her glass and then took a drink of her wine. Azariah grinned as she tasted it, “Oh!” She let out a laugh, “Did you spy on me? This is my favorite!” She looked to the bottle, to the initials that were engraved on the side. “You must just have good taste in wine huh?” Azariah let out a laugh and then took another drink from her glass of wine.

Azariah chuckled as she watched Lynn dance around the topic of her ‘spying’ on her. “I wasn’t accusing you of anything Lynn.” She took another drink of her wine as she then listened to Lynn speak of the quick environment that she was used to. “I imagine it would be freeing to finally do something you believe in, I’ve never had to do something I didn’t believe in, I couldn’t imagine it.”

Azariah then gave a gentle smile when Lynn asked her of her past. She didn’t talk much of her past. She filled her own glass back up and took a drink from it as she listened to Lynn speak of being a jester. Azariah chuckled, her cheeks becoming rosy with the wine. “I would have to hear you play the lute, before we decide if you would have been a good jester or not.” She laughed happily and took another drink of wine.

“Before all this.” She gave a slight nod. “Well, as you know my parents were both murdered when I was young. My uncle, Jonas, the king took me under his wing. He has raised me as such as a daughter beneath him. I’ve trained with the top fighters of our kingdom, he wanted me to be prepared for when it is my time….as he doesn’t have any offspring and that makes me the next heir.”

Azariah paused for a moment, thinking. She topped off her wine glass and then topped off Lynn’s. “At first in my younger years I only trained, I read as much as I could about the world outside of our city. Then, as I became older Jonas began to assign me to our scout detail. I was the quickest and the most accurate with a bow. He sent me out on retrieval missions, intel missions, scouting out areas. I didn’t go into battle. I was never in any real danger. Always far away, just close enough to gather information. He didn’t want me going any closer.” Azariah paused a moment, “One night changed that. I was just close enough, I needed to get information about the crystal, we had been trying to hunt it down since the moment that King Lazarus sent his men to steal our magic.”

Azariah finished off her glass, she had a soft smile on her lips. “They saw me. I was alone…” She spoke she ran her fingertip along the rim of the glass. “I tried to run at first, but, there were too many, they had horses. I wasn’t going to get away.” She shut her eyes for a moment, remembering. “So I chose to stop, I chose to fight. If I died, at least I died fighting. That’s what I told myself….that moment was about 10 years ago.” She shook her head and let out a soft laugh. “I fought them all off….I can’t remember much of it, it’s all a blur honestly.” She leaned against the desk. “When I came back that’s when Jonas told me to find out everything I could on the crystal, to find the scroll so that we could get the magic restored to our people….to all of the people whom have lost it.”

Azariah smiled as she stood there, she looked over Lynn for a long moment before she finished her glass, she was feeling rather warm and fuzzy from the alcohol. She shifted and giggled as she stumbled slightly. She caught her balance on the desk. “I’m sorry.” She spoke and then chuckled again, “I don’t normally have much wine…but it’s so delicious.” She set her glass down and then she looked to Lynn with a goofy smile on her face. “If you could choose anything, anything at all, what would you be doing?” She asked, her expression curious. “I would own a coffee shop, a quaint little coffee shop and bakery that also has books. I’ve always been one to curl up with a good book. When the time permits.” She gave a slight sigh. “My home, I had a rather nice collection of tales, I was lucky the portrait of my parents and I was not burned.” She moved to her pack, slightly clumsy. She reached into it and pulled out the image that she’d grabbed. She held it to Lynn. “That’s my mother and father.” She gave a sweet smile. “I miss them…” She spoke softly. “But…everything happens for a reason, right?” She sat on the bed next to Lynn. “I mean. If I hadn’t been wounded, like I was….when you found me.” She shook her head. “I would have attacked you, you wouldn’t have gotten close to me. I wouldn’t allow it.” She let out a soft laugh. “Yet here we are, I trust you, Lynn. I trust my life to you. It’s an easy choice. But, had I not been injured.” She shook her head, “Everything has a balance, everything happens for some reason or another.”

Azariah gave a smile as she listened to Lynn, she chuckled when Lynn mentioned that she would play lute in the coffee shop. “As stated earlier, I must hear you play first.” She winked playfully, she was looser with the alcohol in her system. She was less on edge, less worried about the next step. She was relaxed…

Azariah watched Lynn with a curious expression as she talked about the balance, the fate of the circumstance. “You saved me.” She spoke, her voice soft, a smile on her lips. “If you had been a day late…” She shook her head, “I kept running because I had no where else to go, but, surely King Lazarus would have sent his men to take me back to the castle or to retrieve the scroll and finish me off…”

She gave a smirk when Lynn mentioned it was time for bed. “This is true, we have much to do still.” She sighed as she climbed into her bed. “It feels good to….forget sometimes…” She spoke softly, “To relax.” She gave a smile up to Lynn. “Thank you, Lynn. Good night.” She watched as she left the room. Azariah was whisked away quickly into a deep slumber.

The next morning she woke and looked up to the ceiling. She stretched and moved about. Azariah pulled on her boots and fastened her throwing daggers on her thigh. She then fastened the new holster for her bow grip on her left thigh. She smiled as she slipped the bow grip into place. She then lifted her jacket and frowned slightly, it was ripped and stained in blood. She went over to a chest and pulled it open, she reached down into the garments and pulled out a hooded jacket that was much like her red on, however it was made of a beautiful black material. Azariah pulled the jacket on and buttoned it before she fastened her shoulder piece, she looked to the dragon skull for a moment in the mirror and then she left her room.

Azariah walked from the home and toward the sound of clanking metal. She came up to the blacksmith shop and walked in to see the blacksmith beating away with his hammer. He looked up, he had short black hair and a clean cut beard. “Azariah.” He gave a smile and set his things down, he stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her, he was burly and huge compared to her small figure. He grinned then as he looked into her eyes. “You did it.” He chuckled. “Didn’t you?”

Azariah gave a smile and then nodded, “Yes, but, not without much trouble. I was lucky to have Lynn with me.”

“Ahh Lynn, I’ve heard she is an excellent fighter. A half elf is good with me.” He smiled. “What can I do for you Az?” He returned to the sword and tossed it in the cool water which it sizzled in.

“I need lightweight armor, something that I won’t feel. But…I need protection. I just…I don’t have anything…”

The blacksmith chuckled deeply then. “I thought you would never ask, Az.” He smirked. “The king had me make a set for you before you went on your excursion, but I know that you have never been one for armor.” He turned and moved about the workshop and pulled out a small box. “This will protect you, but it will be featherlight. So, a sword slash or two it can withstand but it can’t hold up much more than that. Without an enchantment I cannot make the armor I used to. Have you asked Sam?”

Azariah shook her head. “No, I had Sam make armor for Lynn.” She took the box and set it down on the table. Azariah opened it and looked inside. “Kelan…these are…incredible.” She lifted the bracer from the box. It was beautifully shaped and shined. It had beautiful golden enlays that created swirls and shapes.

“Here.” Kelan stepped forward. “I’ll help you. The fitting should be right.” He gave a gentle smile as he helped fasten the pieces to her forearms. “These are much stronger than the rest, reinforced with a layer of titanium. It’s still light, just much stronger. If you are ever in a dual, you can rely on these to help block attacks.” Kelan moved around her and fastened the shoulder piece to her left shoulder. He then fastened on shin guards as well as two thigh plates. “Last piece.” Kelan stated as he pulled the breastplate from the box, it was on the bottom. He carefully positioned the front piece, “Hold this.” He spoke before he went around behind her as he pieced it together Azariah took in a breath, she’d never worn armor, so it felt strange to her to have something around her chest. She turned her head to the left to see that a raised piece of armor had been made to protect her when she is aiming in on a target. He fastened the pieces around her abdomen and snapped everything in place. “How’s that?” Kelan grinned as he looked her over. “You look fantastic.” He chuckled.

Azariah took a step back and looked down to her armored chest, she gave a nod and a smile. “It’s so light.” She spoke and moved around. She slipped her bow and held it up, willing it into place. She could move easily. She wasn’t covered head to toe in armor, but she had some form of protection now. “Thank you Kelan.” She stepped forward and hugged him before she gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Thank you.” She called as she ran off. She ran back home and made her way up to her room. Azariah packed her bag, making sure she had everything she needed supply wise. She then strapped her pack on and stepped across the hall. Azariah gave a gentle knock on Lynn’s door. “Lynn?” She asked as she stood at the door. “I’m going to grab a few muffins, I think you’ll like them they are elder berry, something you may not have had before.” She left the door closed. “Then we can hit the sky huh? I’ll be at the bakery just down the street on the right when you are ready. I’m going to get a coffee.” She spoke as she slipped away down the hallway. Azariah made her way to the bakery and ordered two muffins and two coffees before she sat down. She took a bite out of her muffin and smiled, it had been awhile since she’d had elder berry.

Azariah looked up from her cup of coffee with a smile on her lips. She chuckled slightly when she saw the reaction from Lynn. “Kelan, our blacksmith made it, before I left for the scroll.” She moved a bit. “It still feels a bit strange, but I think I can get used to it. I’ll need to. I am too vulnerable without it.” She gave a nod.

Azariah finished off her coffee and stood. “We will be traveling to the temple of Vendori. It is deep within the rainforests of the south. A complete opposite of the temple of Thalor.” She paused a moment, “We will only have to deal with two gods at this temple. Erevan Ilesere, the god of mischief…he is going to be our biggest challenge as he can shape shift into anything that he so chooses. Erevan has been known to play tricks on wandering elves, to keep those who do not belong in the temple out. We will need to be careful.” Azariah took in a breath, still getting used to her armor that surrounded her rib cage. “The other goddess is Hanali Celanil. She is the goddess of love and beauty. She is a very trustworthy goddess. She is much like Rellavar, she looks to help, seeks to mend things. She isn’t as rough as Trevin or as chaotic as Naralis. She will help balance out what Erevan throws at us.” It was then that they stepped from the gates to a warm welcome from Ezo.

When Ezo nuzzled Azariah he lifted a talon and tapped at the breastplate that she wore before he growled happily. He then scooped the two up onto his back before he turned his head to looked to Azariah. “Far to the south, Ezo, we need to get to Vendori.”

Ezo cooed before he thrust his wings downward. It would be a long flight. More than a days worth at least. Azariah looked around at the clouds, she didn’t think she’d ever get used to the feeling of flying. Ezo happily zig and zagged around through the puffy clouds he growled happily as he flew. “We will have to stop somewhere around Westcliffe. The temple is too far for us to fly all the way in one day. I don’t want to wear Ezo out, and we will need rest before we enter the temple. Ezo won’t be able to fly us directly in, the forest will be too thick for him.”

Azariah fell silent again as they flew, it was hard to call out over the sound of the wind. As the sun began to lower in the sky Ezo swooped down onto a beautiful rolling hill. The grass danced happily in the gentle breeze. He landed next to a huge tree that stretched up toward the sky, the limbs full of leaves. Ezo knelt and allowed the two off before he took off to find himself food. Azariah looked around, she could see the gentle light in the distance of Westcliffe. It was a small town of miners. Azariah pulled some elven bread from her pack and handed Lynn a piece. “Are you ready to deal with the god of mischief?” She asked, she was worried. She’d heard nightmares of what Erevan had done to her ancestors. This was a god that she didn’t want to deal with. He was chaotic. It was hard to tell if he ever meant well. He was in it to distort reality and cause confusion. She’d heard stories from her father of Elves going to the temple to pay respect and never coming back. They would be found weeks later in the forest, completely out of their mind. Azariah feared for this. She looked to Lynn for a moment as she set up her bedding. She slipped under the blanket and stared up to the stars.

It was not long after she’d fallen asleep that Azariah was roughly awaken. She’d been lifted from her bed in her sleep, an arm was tightly held around her body, pinning her arms to her sides. She could feel a knife against her neck. She gasped as she fought against her attacker. “Lynn!” She cried and glanced around for her. She was slammed against the base of the tree then.

“I’m going to make myself a pretty penny off of you.” The man chuckled as he gripped around her throat.

Azariah lifted her hands up to his wrist, she gripped tightly, her eyes began to glow and a frost covered her hands, it began to spread to his wrist and crawl up his arm.

The man groaned and released her he looked up to her as the frost melted away from his hand. “What did you do, elf?” He asked, his expression hateful.

Azariah stared to him, she glanced around again looking for Lynn, for Ezo. She furrowed her brows as she pulled her bow grip from the holster and held it up. The icy bow formed and she held the arrow aimed at his head.

The man began to chuckle. “What do you think you’re doing?” He asked and held his hands up. “You wouldn’t shoot me would you Azariah?”

Azariah released the arrow then. It cut through the air and just before it pierced into his skull his form melted into Lynn. Her eyes frightened. “No!” Azariah rushed forward, she caught Lynn as her body fell backward. “No…no….” Azariah looked to the blood as it leaked from her head. “I…I…didn’t…”

“No!” Azariah cried as she sat up quickly, tears streamed own her cheeks, her eyes wide, her breathing was quick. Ezo lifted his head his ember eyes looked to her for a moment before he yawned and lowered his head again. Azariah glanced around the camp as her breathing began to slow. Was the god of mischief already playing games with her mind? Or was it simply her mind playing tricks on her?