Ruins in the Mist - Part 1 (short story)
The following short story was inspired by the cover art of the extreme metal band Absu's self-titled album. Give it a listen:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ljw9gk9u26I
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The murky waters of the Pale River gently gave way as the small fishing vessel drifted southward, centred between the marshy shores. The warrior Bannor stood at its bow, fruitlessly gazing forward. Though the pale moonlight illuminated the surrounding landscape, he was near-blinded by the thick veil of mist hovering above the river’s surface. It was early in the summer, a time when, usually, the air would only gradually lose the heat of daylight after sunset. But here on the river it was cold, an unnatural cold that could send an icy shiver down the sturdiest of spines.
Bannor looked back to his companions. At the port side stood the scout Galen, his younger brother and the most adept archer to emerge from their hometown. At the rear of the hull stood the wizard Ancanus, their uncle. Twice the elder man had tried to use magic to dispel the mist surrounding them, and twice it had returned almost immediately, confirming his suspicions about the eerie nature of their destination at the river’s end.
For two days they had sailed south from the village, ignoring the protests and warnings from its inhabitants about the dangers the river posed. But aside from the ominous fog and the odd bird of prey, no threats had made their presence known.
“How much further, uncle?” asked Galen as he waved away the fog in front of his face.
“Not far,” said the wizard, holding his magic staff as the boat’s rudder to keep the vessel on course. “But keep yourselves alert.”
“You know better than we of the dangers of this place,” said Bannor.
“Only the legends, and they’ve little more merit than the whispers of the villagers.”
“Every story has a grain of truth to it.” The wizard did not reply.
On and on the boat drifted, with their surroundings having become so stagnant Bannor began to fear they had hardly moved at all in the past day. But Ancanus suddenly spoke.
“The water,” said the wizard quietly. "It’s deeper. Much deeper.” Before Bannor could inquire further, their surroundings finally changed. The fog before and around them thinned, revealing the waters of the river had widened into a small lake. Thick walls of mist still remained in the distance to the left and right, still obscuring the shoreline. But far ahead, their destination finally revealed itself.
“The ruins,” whispered Bannor. His and his companions’ gazes fell upon a grand fortress of white stone walls and pillars, ancient yet pristine, desolate yet opulent, as if it had a will of its own meant to defy the ravages of time that would see it wither away. Though thin wisps of fog still clung to its surface, the water had turned crystal clear, revealing the dark green tips and branches of thick strands of seaweed that descended into the black depths.
The three said nothing as the ship continued its course forward. As they made their approach, Ancanus slowed the vessel, allowing it to gently drift to the shore’s edge. The anchor was dropped, and the starboard ramp was let down. Single file, the three adventurers de-boarded the boat, stepping ashore for the first time in two days.
Two great soldier-like statues flanked a causeway which led them from the shore to a large portcullis. Through it lie a courtyard, cluttered with pillars, towers, empty plots of Earth where plants had once grown, and more statues, no two of which looked anything alike. At its centre sat a fountain, with crystal-clear water resting in a pool, surrounding a short column topped with a shallow stone bowl, in which a brilliant argent flame burned brightly, as if only recently tended to by its creator.
“What is this place?” asked Galen as he looked about in awe.
“Something more ancient than we could imagine,” said Ancanus. “Built endless ages before the rise of this kingdom we call home.”
“So what is it you hope to find here?” asked Bannor, slightly put off by the ever-so-subtle glow that seemed to emanate from the stone surrounding them.
“What any adventurer hopes for,” the wizard replied. “Treasure of one form or another. Or ancient knowledge, perhaps. Before the king decides to finally plunder this place himself.”
“If the crown has avoided this place for so long, there must be a reason.”
“Perhaps...” the wizard trailed off, a sudden distant look appearing in his eyes.
“What is it?” asked Galen.
“We are not alone,” said Ancanus as he lifted his gaze upward. His eyes widened as a great ball of light appeared in the sky, hurtling toward the ruins. His staff went up, creating a shimmering magical barrier. An instant later, the fireball slammed against the ward, and though the flames dissipated, the three felt the force of the impact rattle in their bones.
“What the hell was-” Bannor began, but was cut off by an ear-splitting roar. Great gusts of wind shot between the towers above, and a great, hulking figure swooped down from the heavens, landing atop the portcullis with a force that shook the ruins like an earthquake. Its talons held firm to its perch, and its leathery wings spanned twice the length of the gate it rested upon. Brilliant white scales lined a serpentine tail and neck, and a horned, reptilian head held the creature’s piercing sky-blue eyes, seemingly burning a thousand times brighter than the fire in the courtyard fountain.
“It can’t be,” said Bannor.
“It is,” said Ancanus.
“Run, dammit!” yelled Galen as the dragon reared its head and shot another jet of flame toward the three. Again the wizard shielded them, and they took off, deeper into the ruins.
“We need shelter!” shouted Bannor, nearly drowned out by the roar of the pursuing dragon.
“We may find it further ahead!” said Ancanus. In a mad dash forward, the three wove between statues, columns, walls, and whatever other barriers they could find to shield themselves from the dragon’s fire. But the ruins ended before they made much progress, and they found themselves thwarted by a great set of sealed stone doors. No other way forward presented itself, and the dragon was closing in.
“We need to get inside!” said Bannor. “How do we open these doors?!”
“There must be a mechanism somewhere,” said Ancanus. Before the wizard could speak further, another fireball came barreling toward the three. But instead of shielding them again, the wizard drew his nephews toward him, away from the doors. The dragon’s flame made contact, shattering the stone as if the doors were built only of thin timber.
“Inside, now!” the wizard shouted. The three scrambled through the crumbling doors and descended into the ruins. But before they could discern their next move, the stone above the door gave way, and the entrance collapsed behind them, trapping them in the dark.
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Part 2 here: https://www.minds.com/CodenameWraith/blog/ruins-in-the-mist-part-2-short-story-973727108095475712