Delphi VI

Delphi lay across the broad back of his stolen mount and listened to the thunder of hooves upon the ancient stone of the northern highway. The stallion was a blur in the night a flicker of alabaster perfection in the shadowy darkness of the storm wracked night. The rain thundered down upon the highlands with startling force reducing the sparse mountain slopes to rivers of rolling mud and filth. Only the old highway, Built at the height of the ancient first age, remained true and sturdy even so he was loath to use it.

With a weary sigh the witch leaned closer over his mount pressing his cowled head to the beast’s thick neck and drawing aside the scarf that shielded his face against the biting wind. “Just a little further my friend” he whispered into his errant companion’s ear “Then you can rest, then we can both rest.” The horse whined in agreement and the witch felt it push on with redoubled effort, satisfied he pulled himself up in the saddle again wrapping his rain slick, chequered cloak about him once more. For three days now he had travelled thusly without pause for rest or sleep, only the surging power within him sustained their pace now reinvigorating tired muscle and weary bone. Together they had fled across empty tracks of land, over rocky ledges and through thick woods changing direction at random and doubling back to throw off the threat of pursuit. But now the weather becoming increasingly foul such games were becoming more of a danger than Delphi cared to risk. It had become increasingly likely that he would be trapped in the wilderness to die alone from exposure or wait for the hunt to come upon him. For a time he had thought to find a village and wait out the storm if not the whole winter. But the though of the pursuing hunters still lingered in his mind, what would happen if those dragon blooded found him? If they came upon a small mining town with their soldiers and their terrifying powers and with blood on their mind. Delphi knew with cold certainty that those godlike beings would think nothing of slaughtering a few dozen mortals for the crime of sheltering one of the anathema. No he would have to find somewhere bigger, somewhere he could lose himself amongst the throng of humanity and there was only one such place he knew of.

So now he found himself upon this ancient roadway, as the weather grew ever worst, mounting one final rise and looking down on his would be hiding place. The Spire rose before him impressive and daunting as ever a single tower of pale golden stone, cut and fitted with the inhuman perfection of first age construction, with a finish like polished glass. It stood defiant upon its rocky outcropping overlooking the Broken River just as it had for time immemorial. Who knows what it once was a fortress, an observatory or perhaps simply a light house. In truth it didn’t matter any more, now the ancient monolith served as the seat of power for the entire Ravensguard Barony an impregnable fortress that had served the Baron and all his line for more than ten generations. And in that time it had prospered, at the heart of a network of ancient road ways the spire drew the wealth of the entire kingdom as well as the innumerable caravans of the guilds. A great city had sprung up about its base crowded streets of granite thronging with countless people, hundreds of travellers passing through everyday and dozens of river boat moving through the broad docking complex. Delphi smiled grimly to himself if he couldn’t hide here he couldn’t hide anywhere, well except maybe Nexus. With a soft chuckle he urged his companion onwards towards civilisation.