The Dark Age Chronicles: The Fall of Night.
Sights, Tales and Pathways.

Eyla looked up at the tallwalls of the city. Her eyes traced the tall walls moving up the broadbattlements and the stone platforms that jutted out from them. She stood for awhile puzzled by the shapes of the creatures that were supposedly holding upthe platforms. Soriah touched her arm, “Are you alright?” she asked.

Eyla looked at her, “I waswondering if the creatures holding up the stone platforms were originally builtthat way or if they were defaced by age and weather.

Soriah’s face suddenlyturned grim, “Neither of those two ideas is true. The creatures are Griffins.The symbol of this land and it was Lyficen’s Dragons that defaced them. Asymbol of this land as well.” Eyla looked back up to the defaced griffins. Shecould now make out the outlines that would have been beaks and maybe a face orears. A deep hate shimmered in her as her rage pushed to release. Soriah facedback to the gate, “We have to get a place to spend the night. Thank goodness wegot here after the annual winter market. We would have never been able to replaceroom.” Eyla grinned and followed Soriah into the mountain city of Overed.

Eyla looked around in aweonce again. It was not that she had never been in cities before; it was justthat it was all so huge and so noisy. People were everywhere; talking,laughing, shouting. It was a wonder that they even understood once another. Butshe loved it. Soriah moved through the crowds like a normal person. Unlesssomeone looked right at her eyes under her head shawl, no one would realizethat she was blind. She followed Soriah into a small wooden structure. Theinside was quite cool from the heat outside. Eyla looked around at the sturdywooden bar and the scattered of tables and chairs; ‘so this is what a tavernlooks like.’ She thought to herself. The older men looked at her with acritical eye, the younger men looked at her with a critical eye, but with asmile on their faces. She grinned back at them, then turned her attention toSoriah who walked up to the wooden bar and threw back her shawl.

The bartender took one look Soriah and Eylasaw the battle on his face to decide how to deal with her. “How can I help youmy lady?” he asked, having decided that being a bit kind may help this awkwardsituation. Soriah smiled and him and said, “I would like to know if Joreakstill lives in Overed.” A shadow fell over the man’s face. Eyla moved closer toSoriah.

“Why do you want to know about Joreak?” theman replied. Soriah nodded as though he said something significant.

“Question for a question…is that still the passfor the plains?” she asked. The man nodded back at her with the samesignificant air.

“Joreak is still here,” hesaid.

“Then I will wait,” Soriahtold him. She turned to face Eyla. Eyla saw surprise in the man’s face when herealized Soriah could more than function without sight. Eyla bared her teeth ina grin that showed him a bit of her berserker rage. He took a step back asSoriah walked away from the bar and Eyla followed in her wake. It was onlyafter she stepped out did Eyla realize that the tavern was completely silent.It worried her that she did not know when the noise disappeared and how much ofthe conversation was heard.

Eyla walked through the Cityof Overed with Soriah, holding onto her arm, as she described the scenes; fromthe tall main spire of the Royal family to the many stalls and their many waresand items for sale. Soriah made her stop and began to barter with a merchantfor some travel items. Eyla growing bored of the verbal swordplay between them,wandered a short way from Soriah’s side and took a chance to stretch her arms,which to her opinion had been hit so many times in this wild place that it wasa wonder that it wasn’t bruise to a blue black color. Her arms collidedunexpectedly with someone. A shout of indignation had her spin to see a youngman rubbing his head with his hand.

“What do you think you aredoing, you clumsy miscreant?” he asked angrily.

“I hit you while stretchingmy arms,’ Eyla said, not liking his tone or his words, “I apologize.” He staredat her for a minute, then a sneer crossed his face as he looked her up anddown.

“I don’t think I should haveexpected any better from a person like you,” he said, “Aren’t you a bit farfrom your pen, outsider?” Eyla flashed him a berserker grin her eyesmomentarily flaring blue; she was satisfied when he took a few steps back fromher.

“And I don’t think I shouldhave expected anything for you; a pompous rich brat that can hardly duck out ofthe way a something as obvious as a person’s outstretched arms. Aren’t you abit far from your fancy cage, O highly plumed pheasant?” the young man’s facecontorted in an ugly mask of anger. Eyla laughed.

“Look at your face!” She exclaimed, glancingaround at the people who had paused to hear their exchange, “That is quite adisplay of tossing your feathers little bird.”

“You do not know who you aredealing with,” he hissed at her. She grinned once more at him, her eyes andsmile holding the cold rage of the berserker, “Neither do you know who you aredealing with, little bird.”

“Eyla,” came Soriah’s clear voice, “I am donehere.”

Eyla bowed mockingly to theyoung man, “I wish you a good day, sir.”

He sneered again at her andwalked off. She found Soriah holding several packages. She took some as Soriahnodded off towards the where she just came, “What was that about?”

“Some boy who didn’t havesense in his head,” Eyla dismissed the question, “Nothing really.” Soriahshrugged and then glanced up sharply, as a man came towards them. The manpassed by without a sideways glance. Soriah stood still for a few seconds thenturned to follow the man. They hurried after him, moving through the throngs ofpeople, often losing sight of him only to see him further up. Then he suddenlydisappeared.

Eyla and Soriah stopped.“Eyla?” Soriah asked. “He’s not anywhere,” Eyla said. She looked around only tosee merchant’s stalls. There was no place to hide. A low whistle sounded andSoriah tugged her to the left. There was nothing but long sheets of thick clothhung up against the main spire’s walls. Soriah pushed her forward.

“Soriah, there is nothing….”Eyla protested, as a hand reached out and pulled her behind the cloth.

“For a companion of Soriah, you sure areslow,” a deep voice said sounding amused.

“Hello Joreak,” Soriah said,slipping in front of Eyla, and reaching her hand out to the tall brown skinnedman.

Joreak grinned and took herhand, “Hello Soriah, what bring you to the mighty city of Overed?” Eyla couldhear the slightly mocking tones as the man said the name.

“Mighty no more,”’ Soriahsaid softly and sadly, “And more the pity since the time has finally come.”

Joreak’s face turned a weirdcombination of shock and hope. “The time has come! You are sure of this?” Helooked at Soriah then back at Eyla several times during that sentence. Eyla andSoriah both nodded. He raised his head let out a sigh that was full of tears.When he looked back at them, his eyes were bright. “I know now why you arehere,” he said his voice a little choked, “and I will not withhold what youseek. But it is a long way from here Soriah, and where you have to go; only thedead reside.” Soriah nodded. He suddenly pulled her into a hug. Eyla could justhear the words he said. Soriah hugged him back.

“We have long waited, and it was not in vain,”she comforted the man. Joreak let her go and held out his hand to Eyla.

“Companion of Soriah,” he said, “I don’t knowwho or what you are. But if she has chosen to give you her trust, so will I.Joreak is ever at your service.”

Eyla nodded and took theman’s hand. “I am Eyla, daughter of the Berserkers. If you are truly a friendof Soriah I will treat you as such. Should you ever try to hurt her, I willreturn to you your dues.” The man’s eyes widened then he grinned.

“Well spoken,” he said, “Befaster next time.” Eyla grinned back and let her eyes flare. The man steppedback a bit at the sudden blue of her eyes. He looked at Soriah, “I see now.”

Soriah smiled, “No youhaven’t” she replied.

Eyla let Joreak’s hand go.Soriah turned to her, “We will leave now my dear, we have far to travel.”

Eyla nodded and said, “Leadthe way.”