Fragments Gallery
Life's Course
The swirling blue lights swirled across the roof of the cavern as the Commander turned to look back along the line of her soldiers. They were weary but she already knew this, in spite of this weariness she still led her soldiers down the treacherous gravel path following the edge of the river. With this shortcut they only had a short way left to go, they could rest once they arrived. She adjusted the heavy pack on her shoulders and fell into line with a passing soldier. As she fell in beside him the man looked up, nodded to her in recognition and took another step. There was little energy to waste on formalities, especially out here.
Occasionally gravel slid and a soldier stumbled, but other than the faint clicks of falling gravel and the muffled breathing of the fighters the cavern remained silent. Talking in the ranks wasn't forbidden, but there was a feeling in this place which stifled conversation. This path made the soldiers uneasy and who could blame them. This path made her uneasy as well.
Ahead the Commander glimpsed a soldier standing on a rock at the edge of the path staring down into the river. Her eyes glittered as she stepped out of the line to the side of him.
"Careful soldier. If you fall in there you're not coming back out."
He glanced back at her and paled visibly, the whitening visible even with the semidarkness, before stepping back from the edge.
"What lies down below," he asked in a shaking voice, "That’s no water even though it flows as a river."
The Commander leaned over the edge to get a clear view of the gleaming liquid down below. A moment passed as she stared at the glowing liquid before she responded.
"No, it's not water. It's time…" she looked him in the eyes as she continued, "We walk the paths of magic. We are intruders here. If you were to brush against that liquid you would be swept away. Do not tempt fate."
The man nodded, saluted and then at her nod rejoined the column. She remained staring down into the flow of liquid for a moment longer, fascinated by the colours and lights glinting from its surface.
After a short time she sighed and drew away from the edge. She'd had too many soldiers die already on this fell journey; there was no need for more to die needlessly. However she knew that more would. If there was one thing this odyssey had had no shortness of it was death.
Once more she fell in beside another soldier and once more the fighter looked at her, nodded and then continued to march.
They would be there soon. She just had to keep thinking that and she could continue on.
They would be there soon.