CIRCLE OF SHADOWS Part 1: Shadow Chaser

Feeling eyes boring into her back, Talli turns and surveys the bushes growing behind her, the green leaves hiding the small thorns, sharp as a needle, growing on the branches below them. Not seeing any movement she returns her gaze to the distant horizon, the sun rising steadily into the sky behind the distant collection of hills protruding into the blue expanse. A slight shiver runs down her spine and she folds her arms around her waist under her small breasts. Her brown hair glints coppery in the morning sun and she closes her eyes and soaks up the warmth playing across her skin.

Sighing softly, a slow groaning moan as it rolls over her lips, she opens her eyes to look longingly on the sun before turning around to return to camp. As she begins to walk away she sucks in a deep breath, straitens her shoulders and lifts her chin a little higher her voice soft in the quiet morning.

‘There is no reason for me to feel ashamed about anything. There is nothing wrong with keeping an eye on him.’

Determined she walks on, jaw tightly clamped and fists clenched closed by her sides, her stride purposeful and steady. Birdsong trill around her and she pauses to listen to the light song, the peaceful setting soothing her guilty conscience and making her feel much better.

Within minutes she walks back into the clearing they had used

as a campsite the previous night, immediately seeing Galen sitting on the tree, his new sword hooked on his belt. Dismay flows through her newly found strength and resolve, and she halts abruptly, not entirely sure how to proceed without looking like an absolute fool.

‘Come on Talli.’

She breathes under her breath harshly, as if words alone can steel her failing resolve.

‘It is not that bad. Sure, you saw the scar and laughed at him when the cold water startled him, but I am sure he is not the type of person to take offence from petty things like that.’

Talli stands completely still, eyes locked on the lounging figure of Galen waiting for them all.

‘Oh where are all the others? Why couldn’t they be here already?’

Talli takes a deep breath, nods her head forcefully to herself and walks forward, her eyes remaining locked on Galen, gauging any reaction he might show at her arrival.

A few yards from the tree, Talli spots movement to her right and her eyes flick involuntarily in that direction. Relief floods through her as she spots Virian walking in towards her, Siril not far behind her in tow, his face flushed red as he tries to keep up with Virian.

Talli’s relief slips away as she notices the dark scowl

written across Virian’s face, and her shoulders slump as she hangs her head, suddenly feeling very depressed.

‘Oh boy! Now I am going to get an earful. She must know that I was spying on Galen.’

Steeling herself for the worse she looks back up, a smile radiating warmth and love as her sister comes to a stop next to her, her breath racing and face flushed.

Talli inhales and opens her mouth to speak.

Lifting her hand to silence her, Virian gives Talli a reproachful look before steadying her breathing.

‘Care to explain as to why you were spying on the man?’

Virian’s voice turns steely and cold as she looks into Talli’s eyes.

Talli swallows the lump past her throat, pulls her shoulders straight and grunts disdainfully.

‘Why should I not keep an eye on him? He was all alone while you and father went walking around, busy with your own little secret talk.’

Try as she might the jealousy creeps into her voice and she looks down suddenly, ashamed at the petulant tone she had so easily fallen into.

Virian looks at Talli, a painful expression playing in her eyes as she shakes her head slowly to the side.

’We were not secretive and we only discussed what we might be doing. You would have been involved if you had not slunk off

so early.’

Her voice turns slightly warmer with affection for her sibling as she continues.

‘You know that Galen helped us escape Reish, so for that we do have to afford him some kind of trust. I do admit that keeping an eye on him is not a bad idea, seeing as we do not know exactly what he is capable of doing or not.’

Talli looks up, hope shining in her eyes, a glimmer of a smile pulling at the corners of her lips.

‘But,’ Virian pauses here, her green eyes glinting with suppressed anger, ’it does not give you the right to spy on him as he is going about his morning ablutions, and if you happen to observe him busy with certain private areas of his life, you must not let him catch you doing so.’

‘Next time try to be more discreet and for all our sakes Talli, apologize to the man. He did after all rescue you.’

Talli nods her head, drops her eyes and whispers in a very soft voice.

‘I will apologize.’

Whipping her head up, Talli looks straight into Virian’s eyes and voice even more hushed then before.

’Have you seen the scar on his back?’

Virian frowns and shakes her head.

‘It is huge. From his shoulder all the way around his back to his ribs. Must be an old scar too!’

Eyes bright Talli looks around Virian’s shoulder to where Galen is sitting, quietly staring at the two of them talking in hushed voices.

Talli tears here scrutinizing gaze from Galen as Siril rushes in beside here, startling her from her silent musings.

Breathless, Siril hangs his head, bends over and rests his hands on his knees as he drags in a deep lungful of air, face flushed a scarlet red beneath the grey hair.

Talli’s gaze lingers lovingly on her father and she reaches slowly towards him, tenderly caressing his shoulder with her fingertips.

‘Father! You should not overexert yourself.’

Her voice sounds very soft and caring as she touches him gently on the shoulder. Siril waves her gentle admonishment away with his thin hand, the blue veins crisscrossing over his hands, stark against the pale skin.

Flicking a concerned glance to Virian, Talli removes her hand from Siril’s shoulder as he pushes himself up, his back creaking as he straightens himself. Grinning glibly at his two daughters, he motions his head towards Galen.

‘I think I will join our friend over there.’

Without waiting for a reply he turns around and ambles slowly towards Galen and the fallen tree, his steps slow and concise as if each moving caused him great pain.

Talli wipes her eyes, trying top hide the tears threatening

to erupt and sniffs softly.

’I worry about him, Vi. He is ageing before our very eyes.

Each day he seems to be even frailer then the day before. I am afraid this excursion will do him no great good.’

Virian looks over her shoulder at Siril, for the first time noticing the slight bend in his back, his thin figure and thinning hair.

Without turning her head she says sadly to Talli.

‘He is old Tal, and I do not think he will be with us for very much longer.’

Turning her head she looks at Talli, her eyes gone flinty and her mouth set sternly.

’To many things have been happening to quickly, and all of that is sapping his strength.

‘Now. Back to the other issue at hand. Please do not antagonize Galen. We have to try and find out as much about him as we can without making him an enemy.’

Talli looks blankly at her sister, her mouth set in a defiant line but then nods her head. Virian blinks her eyes in silent thanks and then looking over Talli’s shoulder she gazes towards the southern horizon.

‘The other thing we have discussed is the possibility that we are being followed.’

Talli nods her head again, her face showing no sign of surprise at hearing this news.

Virian frowns, cocks her head slightly to the side.

‘You knew we might have been followed? When did you first suspect anything?’

Talli looks at Virian conspiratorially before she says in a very hushed voice, eyes widening slightly.

‘I have had this feeling of being watched, as if someone’s eyes were on me, for the last few days. Since we dawdled longer then necessary in that town to buy him that silly weapon he carries now.’

Virian glances towards Galen, sees the sword he keeps continuously by his side and shrugs her shoulders.

‘We had to. You never know when another weapon could come in handy.’

So saying, she pats the dagger sheathed on her belt, and looks longingly at the bow and quiver leaning against her pack. ‘We will try to discern who it is that is following us before planning anything further. For now, stay alert. And stay armed at all times.’

Virian waits till Talli nods her head in agreement then turns around and walks towards her father and Galen, sitting together discussing something. Both men fall silent and look up at her approach, their faces completely innocent.

With an exasperated breath she stalks past them, lifts her bow and quiver full of arrows from the ground and slings it over her shoulder.

‘Let’s get moving.’ So saying she heaves the pack up onto her shoulder, turns around and walks off without a word.

Galen glances at Siril, shrugs his shoulders and pushes himself up from the tree.

‘Well,’ he exclaims loudly, ‘guess we had better listen old man, she might get mad.’ Chuckling merrily he picks up his pack and follows after Virian, not waiting to see if Talli and Siril are following behind.

Siril looks imploringly at Talli as she hurries up to where he stands waiting, smiles grimly at her and then when she is ready to go they walk swiftly after the two receding figures ahead.

‘How far do we still need to go Father?’

Siril thinks quietly for a moment before he answers her, his words clipped as his breath rushes with each jolting step.

‘We are currently heading towards the Lake of Ashar. We should reach it within two or three days at this pace if nothing untoward happens.’

Talli nods her head silently, realises Siril is not looking at her.

’Good then.’

Siril flicks a concerned glance back at Talli when he hears her tone of voice, but then walks purposefully forward to try and catch up with Virian walking in the front.

In silence they walk across the flat lands surrounding them,

bushes growing sporadically along the path, crossing small streams every so often, most likely tributaries of the great Daner River flowing south across the plains. The sun beats down hotly from above, all four wishing silently for the cool confines of Reish Forest.

By late afternoon they spot a small village built on the edge of a small river. Grey smoke rises languidly into the sky from a few smokestacks atop the thatch and clay roofs.

Breathing a small sigh of relief Virian halts and calls them together.

‘I think we should rest here tonight, have a good meal and then set off early tomorrow morning.’

The three nod their heads in silent agreement, too exhausted and footsore to talk. Without lingering much longer they head towards the village and as they walk along the dusty road they spot the dulled sign of a tankard and plate hanging on a rusty hook on a wall. The dusty wooden floorboards creak as they step towards the door, and pushing it open the sounds of the inn booms loudly from within.

Wincing slightly, Galen follows close behind Virian, hand resting on the sword hilt at his side.

‘Welcome to the Cokera Inn!’

A loud voice thunders from behind the counter set along the back wall, a huge man in a white apron standing behind it. Red moustache, curling at the tips, set above a broad mouth; numerous teeth missing amongst the other black ones; his bald head, oily sheen gleaming in the dim lighting, placed on a thick neck and broad shoulders; red hair spilling over the top of his collar where his shirt parts open.

A meaty hand thuds down on the counter and, bellowing in a thick voice, he motions them towards him.

‘What can I help you folks with?’

Smiling pleasantly Virian looks around the inside of the inn, before moving confidently towards the counter.

‘We would like two rooms for the night please.’

‘Two rooms? For only the one night? Certainly.’

So saying he swirls around, lifts two keys from a hook and slams them on the counter beneath his open palm.

‘That is two Shikes each, m’dear.’

Grinning salaciously at the two sisters, he waits as Virian scrabbles inside a purse on her belt, the soft tinkling of coins coming from within.

Placing the money on the counter Virian asks politely as she looks around the inside of the inn, nose wrinkling slightly.

‘Do you serve food to the rooms or only down here?’

‘Food’s a Dom a meal, and for you doll, I’ll have them take it up to your rooms. For a Pin or two extra if you don’ mind me asking.’

‘Not at all, sir.’

So saying she reaches into the pouch and pulls out four small

silvery discs and two coppery ones and lays it on the counter.

‘Thank you kindly for your assistance.’

With quick hands she picks the keys up from the counter and hastens up the stairs, Galen, Siril and Talli following closely behind her.

‘Rooms are to yo’ left at th’ end and food’s an hour after suns gone down. Be sure to come down an’ join us now!’

He’s maniacal cackle follows the four as they hasten to the doors at the end of the dim hallway.

Virian hands Galen a set of keys.

’You and my father will be in there. We will meet tonight at dinner in our room.’

Galen nods and unlocks the door in front of him, walks in and drops his gear on the floor. Dust lifts into the air and Siril sneezes loudly as he walks in, closing the door softly behind them.

Breathing out contently, Galen falls unto the bed, dust flying everywhere. Siril sneezes violently, wipes his nose and sits down tiredly on the edge of the second bed. Eyes teary he looks around the dreary room Dust settling again silently, he pulls of his boots and lies down, exhales a deep breath and promptly falls asleep.

Galen stares at the old man for a few more moments before resting his head back and closing his eyes. The noises of enterprise and activity flow from the streets of the village and into the open window, and Galen lies quietly and listens to the lulling sounds.

A dull thud issues from the room next door and rolling unto his side he looks at the blank wall beside him and imagining the two women getting comfortable next door, he drifts into a deep sleep.