Page 60 of A Soul to Steal

They walked down a subtle decline parallel to a wide river. Fishlike creatures breached the rushing water, jumping in and out as if they were playing. He couldn’t truly identify them, as they weren’t close, but they looked rather... furry.

If Elves aren’t giants, then why the hell are their gates so damn tall?Gideon thought when they came upon them.

He shielded his eyes from the suns as he looked upwards. It was pointless. They also shone through his hand anyway, making him look transparent, even to himself.

Made of white wood, swirling patterns of gold, silver, and bronze frolicked over the sealed entrance, as if the inhabitants wanted to decorate it and make it less dreary. The design formed a tree with its roots encompassing a seed that had some kind of Elvish writing within it.

“Should we knock?” Gideon asked, pursing his lips.

“We can just pass through,” Aleron stated, stepping towards the gate.

With a deep thud, the end of his snout bashed against the barrier, which blocked him from moving through it, then the rest of his face and body impacted. Bouncing backwards, he rubbed at his snout. He shook his bony head, and the sound of dry, rattling bones came from him.

“That hurt,” Aleron whimpered.

Gideon stifled the urge to chuckle by coughing into his fist, mainly because watching his head almost retreat into his shoulders had been rather hilarious. Plus, the pain was sure to fade quickly and wouldn’t be lasting.

Aleron then slammed his fist against the barrier. Instead of a thud, it rippled, and Gideon’s head twitched when he thought he heard it... ring? Every time Aleron hit it, a gentle, high-pitched tune came from it like wind chimes.

Within seconds, the rich metal ores on the gate sprung to life. Unknotting their interlocking patterns, they receded like water being sucked backwards. The seam of the double doors was revealed as they cracked open, allowing the sunlight from behind them to flood over Aleron and Gideon.

The barrier never disappeared nor allowed them through, even when the doors had fully opened inwards. However, a new bubble grew out from the barrier to surround them.

By Aleron’s hand tightening around his own, he figured the big Duskwalker was uneasy about being trapped. Gideon, on the other hand, surmised its true purpose. It was to ensure their safety, had a Demon approached to attack, as it would likely follow the protective shade of the fortress walls to do so.

On the other side of the threshold were two soldiers, who approached holding the strangest spears he’d ever seen. He thought they may actually be some kind of glaive, as the blades came down the first quarter of the poles. At the base of each blade, where it connected to the white pole, was an intricately decorated ribbon – blue on one spear, and the other’s was red.

Like the door, swirling and knotted patterns danced along the seams of their armour, which looked more ornamental than battle attire. At first glance, it appeared to be metal painted in muted white. Yet, when one twisted to glance at her companion through a winged helmet, the armour folded and crimpled as though malleable.

The only visible parts of the soldiers were their faces and the underside of their hands. They both had dark-brown skin, but he noted it lacked any of the pink or olive undertone in humans, and appeared to be grey instead.

I wonder if they have pointed ears, like in storybooks.

They spoke to each other in a language he’d never heard before – and one he could never begin to describe. It was musical, gentle in its tones, and soft-spoken.

“I have a task from Weldir,” Aleron explained, stepping back from the barrier. “He wishes for us to speak to the Gilded Maiden.”

Gideon couldn’t help but peek at Aleron, whose shoulders were tense, and his feathers puffed. Perhaps to most eyes and ears, Aleron would have sounded loud, confident, and even a little... arrogant. Especially with his head lifted up, his shoulders rolled back, and his wings flared, as though he wanted to be daunting.

He’s trying to look frightening.His eyes crinkled with humour that mingled with tenderness.But I know he’s a big, soft teddy.

Gideon could get behind that. He often put up a front when first meeting people. He liked to come across as over-confident and suave, when really, he was actually a giant goofball when given the chance.

After Aleron spoke, their eyes grew wide in unmasked shock, the man’s mouth falling. They darted their faces to each other, and their conversation became rushed.

The man ran off, leaving the woman behind, who flattened her hand out as though for them to wait. Apparently, a multi-universal gesture.

Gideon thought about giving a thumbs up, but decided against it in case it was the equivalent of giving the middle finger to these people. Instead, he nodded.

He turned to Aleron and then tightened his features on one side.

“I’m not sure what you want me to do.” Gideon attempted to straighten his clothing, even brush it of non-existent dirt, worried he suddenly appeared unkept. He swept his fringe back and grew annoyed when most of it fell forward across his brow. “I don’t plan to interfere, since this is your thing. I just agreed to come along for moral support.”

“Your presence is all I need to be at ease,” Aleron said, causing a wonderfully painful ache of tenderness to swell in Gideon’s chest. The Duskwalker lifted his snout in the direction of the waiting soldier before bringing it back to him. “I am... I have not done many things on my own. I always had my kindred by my side. It shames me to admit that I am nervous I will make a mistake.”

Gideon’s eyes crinkled with humour again. “I thought you only wanted me to come because you didn’t want to be lonely.”

“This too.” Aleron squeezed his hand once more. “As much as I trust Weldir to keep his promises, I wanted to keep you by my side for my own peace of mind. I would like your help if I cannot explain my task properly, or if... I get frustrated that I cannot do so.”

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