Darkness: Chapter 23 - Dawn

He dragged his left foot. It was twisted, only adrenaline had kept him running when he had fought, only sheer willpower. The tunnel had been long, winding for what felt like miles before it came to a mouth, and already the glow of light was hurting him. His eyes burned, throbbed with agony as they adjusted to the brightness of the braziers within, but this was a more deep seated pain.

Tolerate it, you are nearly there.

The smells and scents of still water, of tree’s and life wafted up the tunnel to his nostrils.  When at last he came to the end, his heart stopped. The way was blocked.

No...!

The end of the tunnel was wide, but a sheet of solid earth barred his way, all but for the small of holes, Likely for air. He staggered up, raised a hand and hammered upon it, pleading with it in silence, his teeth clenching in anger.

All this way for nothing...

The earth shuck, the grinding of sound heralded movement, the air whispered and the stone lowered. The elements had granted him this one gift as thanks, and he would not forget it.

”Thank you, spirits... He uttered, talking to nobody, himself and everything around. As the wall of stone finally ceased and the door was opened he was met with a cold rush of air, chilling him to the bone. What lay beyond felt to his eyes as daylight, but he knew it to be night.

Freedom.

Beyond was the croak and hum of a swamp, one he felt to be Dustwallow. To his back were the southern mountains that led to thousand needles.

So, they didn’t drag me far at all.

He grunted, taking tender steps forward to seat himself on a fallen log. His left ankle pained him, deeply. The surges of fiery hot agony bolted up his leg each time he placed his weight upon it.  The eventual journey to Mudsprocket would be fraught with problems. Taking a firm grip of his sword, now returned to his scabbard he made himself comfortable, running a hand around its hilt.

It had not hit him just how much he had missed it since it had all begun. He had become too reliant on a piece of metal to do his work for him, it had become everything. It was too much of a roll in his life for an inanimate object.

Ashlan would laugh at that. A Blademaster’s weakness being his sword...

Lifting his gaze to the east he narrowed his eyes. The colour of the horizon was changing, its hues shifting from black to a haze of deep then royal blue. Clouds revealed themselves, escaping from nights shadow. He knew what was coming, and how it was hurt him.

Dawn.

Despite his trepidation, he sat there unmoving. He would weather it come what may. The distance shimmered and changed, blue became light yellows as his eyes struggled to keep pace with the escalating assault upon them. The sky above was red as it retreated, fleeing from what was about to arrive.

The sun.

The first ray was agony, hitting his eyes like a bolt of fire to the mind. Then the tip of that circle peaked over the distant horizon, causing him to raise a weary arm to shield his view. Pain shot up his left shoulder as he struggled to keep balance upon his uneasy seat.

Though it intensified as that orbs light bounced from every surface, reflected upon the water and the glare increased, he withstood it. The heat on his skin was a burning caress that he let wash over him, embracing the pain. He had missed it, oh spirits how he had missed it.

Too long have I walked in the dark. Too long.

As the sun began its inevitable rise, now free of the tip of the world, he returned his gaze to the cave mouth he had emerged from, where it all had happened. He narrows those eyes, considering.

Wrongs must be righted...

And so he rose, limping back to the tunnel...