Entering Ebon

Silence swirled with the fluttering flakes of the light snow that fell on Caden and her Kennari as they made their slow way to Ebon. The onyx city was invisible against the darkness, even reflecting stars from its glassy walls. From Caden’s vantage, the city reflected the Rider – two huge, starry horses reared at one another, each with a mounted Eamron, swords drawn upon one another. Suddenly, blue fire blazed along the edges of the star-swords. Caden gave a small gasp and squeezed her Kennari’s hand. She knew the fire was simply a trick of the atmosphere, but the Rider’s sword awakened her confidence. Just as Eamron conquered the encroaching armies millennia ago, Caden knew that she and her Kennari would conquer Dared this night.

‘Eamron’s sword lights for us’ she breathed, the mist of her breath swirling in the icy air.

‘He sends us hope as we face those who will oppose us.’

Caden looked sideways at her Kennari. Bundled in his furry parka, he seemed not merely taller than most men, but a giant. Anyone glimpsing them from the city must think they saw a father leading a small child by the hand. She slowly slipped her gloved hand from his. She would not be seen as a child this night. She would stand up before the King beside her Kennari. She would do what she must to save her people.

The Twins were hardly visible in the inky night as the two passed through them and entered Ebon. A short guard threw open the door to a small guardhouse carved into the foot of the northerly Twin. The small fire within the guardhouse lit the man from behind so that Caden could not see his face, but the firelight flooded over herself and her companion. The Kennari drew back his hood just enough to give the guard a clear view of his face. When the guard recognized him, he stopped short.

‘So, it’s you,’ the guard snarled. ‘The King said you’d be here this night.’ He eyed the Kennari with disgust.

‘You are to be escorted. You will wait.’ The guard turned on his heel and marched back to the foot of the Twin, barked an order into the small room, then slammed the door hard enough to cause the Twin to quake. Caden shivered, remembering the lesson her Kennari had taught her today. For a moment, she saw the twins toppling, crumbling down to block the gate. The Kennari’s gentle hand on her arm jolted her from her vision. The guard, obviously expecting them to follow him, had marched ahead. Caden had to trot to keep up with her Kennari’s long strides, but he slowed a bit when they caught the guard.

The three figures walked quickly and quietly among the deep shadows of the moonless night. The guard led them down narrow back-ways, as he would have a prisoner or a Buried - hidden from the eyes of Ebon.