Glass Throat - Chapter 5

Elia’s hand went to her sword’s pommel. She raised the lantern, willed just a little more light to it.

“Wait…”

Scanning her surroundings, she caught a glint off to her right. The lantern had highlighted a mask impassive.

“Brother?” Elia called.

“Aye,” the first one rasped.

Slowly, several hulking figures emerged from the darkness. There were seven of them. Elia exhaled slowly, feeling the weight in her chest ease just a little. She wasn’t alone anymore.

As they stepped within the lantern’s light, Elia willed the lantern dimmer. She was starting to feel weak, though buoyed by their presence.

“Are you the Flamefeather Chamber?” Elia asked. “Sent to find Knight Questor Vornus?”

A few of them nodded.

“Where are the rest of you?”

They exchanged glances as they walked up to her. They settled at parade rest around her. She sat down as they approached, the dim lantern barely keeping them all in its lambent glow. “Some are back in Azyr. Others are likely caught in the mists. Others…” a few of them exchanged glances. “We don’t know.”

“Did you ever find Knight-Questor Vornus?”

“No. We never even made it to the Mirrorhold. Once we made it to this accursed valley, we were swallowed by the mists."

“I’m not surprised,” Elia said gesturing at the mists around her. “The Throat of Lies would have had me too if not for this lantern.”

“Ahhh, is that what it’s called?” Their spokesperson muttered, his voice cracking. “That makes sense. Thrice damned fog. We haven’t had water for a week.”

Elia grabbed her waterskin from her belt and tossed it to the spokesperson.

He raised it to his lips and took just a little bit before passing it to the next stormcast. “Ahhh, ambrosia from Sigmar himself. Thank you sister. What’s your name?”

“I am Elia Iceheart.”

“What chamber do you hail from?”

“Truthfully, I’m not sure anymore.” She looked down at her sword. “This is no knight questor’s sword. And I was a liberator with my company until yesterday when I was given this lantern by Lord Castellant Strongoak and sent out to find you and Vornus.”

“Well met Elia. Thank you again.” He took the waterskin back, had another small pull before passing it back to her. “I am Liberator-Prime Thaelon, and these are my liberators Syris, Tirra, and Rykhar. This is Prosecutor-Prime Serida and Cassivar, and this is Judicator Ardevan.” Most were wearing their masks impassive. Only Thaelon and Ardevan’s faces shone in the lantern’s light.

Elia nodded at each as they were introduced.

“Thank you,” Serida said, her voice sounding like lightning dancing on the edge of a needle, “My throat feels better.”

Elia hauled herself to her feet. “I’m glad I could help. Hopefully we’ll be back in Aqshy before any of us get thirsty again.”

Rykhar laughed, though it sounded grim. “Sigmar willing,” he said.

“This lantern seems to cut through whatever shadow magic permeates this valley, but it drains me. If you could be my eyes and ears, so I can focus on guiding us there, I would appreciate it.”

Thaelon nodded, and he and Tirra immediately took point, with Ardevan and the prosecutors to either side of her and Syris and Rykhar bringing up the rear.

They set out to Mirrorhold.

~

The citadel loomed out of the mist above them. There were two unlit lanterns framing the gates, and what looked to be a lighthouse on the top, clearly in a different style.

Elia willed her lantern off before [collapsing] on the ground and drinking the last of her water. “This Sigmar-blessed and Sigmar-damned lantern takes a lot out of me.”
Cassivar put his hand on her shoulder. It seemed a trite response — but to her surprise, warmth spread through her limbs, steadying her. She felt better.

“The Mirrorhold has been around for longer than we know,” Ardevan said. “Sigmarite settlers found it here a century ago. Made of nearly indestructible glass. It made an excellent strongpoint.”

Syris snorted. “Are you making this up Ardevan?”

Ardevan scowled. “Do you think I wouldn’t study the particulars before we left on our mission?”

Elia couldn’t tell if Ardevan was joking or not.

“You see the lighthouse on top?” Ardevan continued, “We added that some decades ago. It was burning sacred flame, and would have made the crossing of the valley much easier.”

“Thank Sigmar we have Elia here,” Syris said. “Her lantern is more useful than all of that knowledge.”

Ardevan scowled, but didn’t disagree.

Thaelon walked up to the gate and banged on it. It creaked slowly open under his fist.

There was no response, except after a moment they could hear a steady drumbeat coming from deep in the Mirrorhold.

Elia stood up. The wind’s whispers curled in her ears like smoke. “Damn Ulgu,” she spat. “Let’s go. Vornus won’t save himself.”