CHAPTER13: “Prophetic Bindings”
His companions and new found, allies, strode along with him behind Vasius. Eyes adjusting to the deep gloom, he now saw that they were in a sort of alcove, the wall behind them stretching in a semi circle and rough rocks of fallen pillars strewn in front to create an elliptical war camp. A shimmering passed every so often, just out of view in the corners of his vision, as if the entire encampment was covered in a shimmering bubble of some kind.
peering out as they walked, Tharne noticed through the shadowy gloom that they appeared to be in some kind of grand hall, pillars lined the other side less than a hundred meters from where they were stationed and like the ones which bordered the campsite and continued along the close wall, these disappeared into the darkness above them.
approaching the far side of the wall, opposite to the end they had run through before, Tharne suddenly squinted. It appeared as if a light was glowing softly in the distance. A pale red glow, it illuminated a group of
the shadows clawing and tearing at the heavy stone of an immense doorway. Pictures and engravings, shadowed in the bathing light, seemed to shiver and burn in the glow.
A trembling ripple echoed through the air and across Tharne’s chest, rippling softly as it reverberated inside his lungs. Then, the glow grew, slowly building in the darkness, the deep red light exploded as a disgusting gelatinous beast opened its frog like mouth and spewed a burst of molten flame upon the stone work, its powerful heat cracking and weakening the walls and door. Tharne could hear the cracking and fracturing, as layer upon layer of stonework weakened and burned in infernal fury.
“What is behind that door?” Asked Tharne, peering into the black landscape.
“We don’t know” replied Vasius calmly. “but we do know one thing.”
Turning his eyes unfocused as if he was concentrating
on something far away.
“This is the highest place in the tower that we have reached so far” he spoke, his voice reminiscent of a storyteller in his prime. “When we arrived here, battling our way forth through the beasts, we discovered that they had already been fighting to break through for some time”
Pausing again, he added, “Whatever is through those doors, They are desperate to have it”
Scanning the beasts far in the distance, Tharne counted only four or five of them, scratching and beating at the door with the great fiery monster blasting at the stonework with elemental fury and demonic perseverance.
“shouldn’t we stop them?” questioned Tharne, motioning towards the far glow at the end of the distant pillars. “Surely with the strength you seven possess you could destroy them?”
“It is not the Burrowers which worry me friend” Said Vasius, a defeated look of failure displayed clearly on his face.
Silently, Vasius began to concentrate, his energy pulling and twisting through a braided ring of mahogany. Air and force pulling through the universe and focused through him and his living ring brought forth a bright glowing orb of white light. turning, he motioned Tharne to look, and reaching, the orb floated forth, slowly drifting faintly above them and out into the depths of the room itself.
Vasius clenched his fist tight, shattering the globe and generating an eruption of pure and bright light throughout the room, shining bright like a sunrise, it illuminated the entire structure in its brilliance.
Tharne could see the immense arches each dark stone pillar made with its twin across the rooms rooftops, spanning the divide and generating a beautiful vaulted ceiling throughout the entire length of the long hall they were in.
However, any beauty which he may have seen was stolen by the horror of what the room contained. A sea of monstrosities, seemingly darker now in the blinding light, sprawled out across the structures and emerged from cracks and holes in the many walls. Great beasts stormed through their ranks, towering above the others like living siege engines and around the perimeter of their encampment itself, prowled hunting bestial entities, searching around the now visible dome of light which surrounded and protected them.
slowly, the light faded, Tharne turned to watch his friends staring stunned, their faces frozen in looks of mixed fear and surprise at what they had seen.
“Now you see why we have been unable to make it to the door” Vasius chuckled, a nervousness infecting every word as he spoke.
Nym’s dark and deep voice spoke suddenly from behind them. “We have gained ground through stealth, frontal assaults and separating into teams to battle these foes!” defeat evident as he listed each encounter,
“Yet never have we been able to break their lines fully enough to claim ground or gain access to the door” he finished, tilting his head, his mouth twisting into a nervous smile.
“He is trying to stay positive” Tharne thought, “but he has given up on hope.”
“Many of the beasts seem impervious to our attacks” stated Erim, standing towards the back of the group, her height, though she crouched in that ever ready state of preparation, made her seem to tower over the rest of them. “we can defeat hundreds of them, and then, when it seems we might turn the tide, a greater shadow will appear, almost tangible in its existence and we can do nothing but retreat.”
Looking around, Tharne could sense a feeling of depressed anxiety growing in the encampment. It was almost a tangible force, growing like a poisonous vine wrapping everything it touched with darkness and draining hope.
“Come” called Erim, glancing quickly back at the form of Vasius who now, was staring deep into the darkness, his mind lost in its contemplation. “At least we can get you settled and recovered from your battle through the halls to here.
Leading them onwards toward the back of the alcove, they passed Yuri, brandishing her sword with the grace and poise of a dancer as she moved through the forms. Her deadly grace accentuated by her fury in her eyes as Tharne and his companions moved past.
At the rear of the camp stood a shallow hollow bowl carved into the stone tiles, this caught water trickling from several large splitting, cracked seams in the wall behind creating a wide shallow pool which Erim directed them to should they need to bathe.
Next she showed them to an area which immediately brought them hope and happiness in this dark place. A large patch of soft clover and grasses sprouted across the ground nearby as Jadeis watched Dahuri sleep nearby, still clutching her book. Tharne was reminded of
the way a mother would watch a child.
And finally nearby a small group of plants grew in dark pots, sprouting fruits and vegetables of every shape and colour.
“How did you manage this” Exclaimed Nima, her eyes wide, hands moving as if trying to encapsulate the wonders around her in one gesture.
“It was Dahuri” Erim said simply, her accent adding to the casual inflection in her voice, making it almost whimsical. “She very occasionally finds something in that book of hers that helps us to survive or protects us from the beasts.”
motioning towards the sleeping girl Erims voice grew quiet. “Sometimes she reads for hours, scrolling forwards and backwards over the same pages again and again, tilting the book this way and that as if looking at words, however the rest of us have tried and we see nothing but blank pages”
Sighing Erim made a dismissive gesture, “Whatever the book is telling her” she said, “It is telling to her alone”
Erim excused herself, telling them she had the next watch and that they all should clean up and rest while they could.
The water, fresh and cool, seemed to drain the aches and pains away, and drew the dust and ash from their clothing when they washed. The sweet and savoury fruits made them feel both relaxed and alert and tasted so good that Nima appeared to be attempting to see how many she could fit in her mouth at once. Ryan, not to be outdone by her, began to do the same, achieving stern looks from Ivy, Blake and Tharne, all of which they ignored.
Soon all the others returned to the grove at the back of the camp, Vasius, casting a quick watchful eye over Jadeis and Deharu, whispered something to Yuri as she huffily took a seat on a fallen rock as far from Tharne and his companions as possible. Nym stood, like a pillar of stone with arms crossed over his chest near the
outskirts of the croup, leaning on one of the small tree trunks. Tomu, oblivious to anyone else with his youthful cheer, sat in the center and placed his sword across his lap. Tharne could think of nothing else but a child awaiting its parent to read them a story.
Lastly Erim arrived, her hair pulled back in a loose bundle of braids, and swinging as she strode past Vasius.
“The camp is secure for now” she said. “I see no signs of wear on Dahuri’s bubble”
“Very good” Vasius chuckled. “Now down to business”
Pausing to take everyone in and then stopping and looking directly at Tharne, he said, “So, now that we have the manpower, who has a plan about how to get past those ghastly beasts?”
Tharne dropped his head a little and then slowly raised it to find Vasius looking directly at him, as if searching for an answer.
“I think i have a way” he began, when a terrible ripping sound began tearing through the air above them.
Looking up in shock, the others didn’t see Dahuri until she had risen and walked over to stand directly in front of Tharne. As she spoke, all others looked, for it felt as if time had stopped as she read from the book out loud, her voice carrying through the dark air with dreadful resonance.
“whence on the fifth day of the impossible siege, the dark sky of the internal sanctum should tear, and the beasts will come.”
“Trust all in he who would speak the first plan. For together your might is greater than the sum of your pieces.”
“In the darkness your bones will rest , should you fail to heed his call”
Shattered Cosmos 
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