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Krystal Farr and Symphony Rand lived in the village of Besryn in the northeast part of Irraidia. Sunlight streamed through the window and the air was fragrant with the scent of spring. Krystal sat in the main room of the house, splinting a boy’s broken arm. Healing magic was all well and good, but she found the natural way was always better. Bones mended more strongly and ailments were less likely to reoccur. The boy sniffled as she worked, his irritated mother waiting near the door. Standing to help him into a sling, Krystal reached over to a candy dish on a narrow table against the wall, handing him a piece. The boy put it in his mouth and smiled, sniffles ceasing.
“Keep him in the sling for about a week and then come see me so I can check his progress.” Krystal instructed the mother.
“Thank you. I’ll make sure he doesn’t fall out of any more trees.” The mother said stiffly, taking her son’s free hand and guiding him out the door.
Expecting no more visitors, Krystal moved through the house to go out the back door and stand in her and Symphony’s garden. Pleasurable smells assaulted her nostrils, tensed shoulders relaxing. Krystal looked to the horizon, her mouth forming a thin frown. Distantly she heard Symphony enter the house, calling her name. With her orange gaze transfixed skyward, Krystal only answered after a long moment. Symphony joined her and slipped her hand into Krystal’s.
“Look at the sky.” Krystal said her voice barely audible. Somehow, the situation called for whispering.
Symphony’s eyes became impossibly wide.
Menacing black clouds rolled towards Besryn at an extremely accelerated rate. Multiple lightning bolts burst from their center. A chill raced up Krystal’s spine. She swore she saw a hateful, raging face in the clouds.
“Symphony, get your violin. Something’s wrong.”
They both ran inside, Symphony retrieving her violin, Krystal grabbing her glaive. With the latter in the lead, they rushed to the edge of town. Others had noticed the strange cloud formation, grouping there. The forefront of the clouds blotted out the sun. A child began to cry. All thoughts of spring were erased.
By now, Krystal and everyone else could see the winged figures flying out of the clouds. Abruptly one zoomed towards the villagers. Flying low it snatched a woman up by the hair. The poor soul shouted and flailed to no avail. The demon—Krystal knew it to be—tore one of the woman’s arms from her torso. She blacked out. The demon feasted upon her flesh. More flew from the clouds. Krystal took Symphony’s hand. They bolted further into Besryn. A demon landed before them. Krystal shoved the blade of her glaive into its face. Black blood oozed onto the weapon. Krystal forced it forward again. The demon collapsed. Freeing her weapon, Krystal ran in between two buildings. Her heart pounded. Symphony yelled something. Krystal’s mind registered it belatedly.
“East to the sea.”
Krystal and Symphony sprinted from their hiding place. A path would take them east. Letting go of each others hands they ran. The flying demons were oddly absent. But wingless ones roamed the streets. A reptilian one caught Symphony’s arm in its grip.
”NO!” Krystal shrieked.
Symphony went down. The demon vomited blood onto her. Krystal raised her glaive, hacking at its scaled back. It lashed out at her with a clawed hand. Evading Krystal brought her weapon down and with deadly accuracy chopped one of the demon’s hands off. In agony, it wailed ferociously, stumbling backwards. Symphony struggled backwards on her elbows. Krystal ran past the demon, pulling her lover upwards. Immediately they realized their fight had drawn other demons. A large group stalked towards them in the center of the street.
Wiping blood away from her eyes, Symphony took her violin out of its case. Placing her chin on its rest, she leveled her bow at the demons like a sword. Krystal watched as the elf brought the bow across the strings, fingers pressing against them. Symphony played slowly and mournfully, eyes shut, eyebrows knitting together.
The world lost its clarity. Colors dulled. The rank odor of blood faded.
“Hurry!” Symphony said, completely abandoning her violin case as she began running, Krystal a step behind.
Going past the last building of Besryn, Krystal and Symphony blundered down the dirt path toward the sea. Weary from their ordeal both had difficulty breathing and feared the affect of Symphony’s spell would wear off all too quickly. Their fears were confirmed as the world regained its sharpness. A demon in flight cackled behind them. Krystal turned and swung her glaive. Unable to slow itself, the demon hurtled into the blade, its blood spraying onto Krystal and Symphony. Not waiting for another, they continued for the water, able to hear its roar. Knowing a lonely fisherman had his house on the beach the healer and musician bumped into each other rolling down a hill. Dizzied they stood, sand beneath their feet. Symphony pointed to the fisherman’s house and dock, which had a boat bumping against it. The ragged pair pushed forward. The house was deserted so they ran along the dock, jumping into the boat. Symphony untied the rope and Krystal began to row. Demons soared above but did not attack.
“Follow the coast.” Symphony advised.
“Good idea.” Krystal murmured.
Into the night, the little boat moved southward. Eventually the two saw no more demons. Symphony commented on it and Krystal merely shrugged. They took turns rowing, each yawning repeatedly, but not wanting to risk landfall. In the morning, Krystal could see the city of Sova.
“We have to stop. We need water and food.”
Symphony nodded, reaching into the water to wash the dried demon blood from her face.
Krystal guided the boat onto the beach. Cold and exhausted she cringed as her stiff muscles protested when she climbed out, lending a helping hand to Symphony. Lethargically, they walked to Sova. People did their business merrily. Krystal couldn’t believe her eyes.
“Are you all insane?! There are demons to the north. They will come here and attack.” She began shouting, waving her hands.
People stared.
“Excuse my friend, she’s mentally disturbed. Usually I can control her outbursts.” Symphony explained apologetically.
“Symphony! We have to do something.”
“Unless we present an actual demon, I doubt they’ll do anything. Let’s get some water.” Symphony said under her breath.
At a public well, they gorged on water, moistening their chapped lips.
Krystal luxuriated in the water’s taste, but when she looked into her paper cup, she saw a familiar face.
“Krystal, come to the tip of the Irraidian Thumb.” Rhea instructed, disappearing from the water instantly.
Krystal didn’t need Rhea to tell her twice. “Symphony, we’re going to the Irraidian Thumb. My friend will be waiting for us.”
Symphony gave Krystal an odd look. “Are you all right, Krystal? Who is waiting for us?”
“Rhea is waiting for us. Do we have any money?”
Symphony shook her head. “All the money I had earned playing was in the case, but I can always play here.”
Finding the merchant quarter of Sova, they stood on a street corner. Symphony began to play. Her music was fast and furious, soon drawing a crowd. The elf’s fingers moved across the fingerboard and she began to sway. Behind her Krystal watched as spectators began dropping money into the water cup in front of Symphony. Finishing the first song, she easily flowed into another, the music filling the air. More folks stopped to watch. With no space in the cup, the coins were scattered around Symphony’s feet. After a while, it was obvious she tired and Krystal touched her shoulder. Though there were calls for an encore, the elf ceased her playing, thanking the audience. Krystal bent to gather the money.
“That was a new song, wasn’t it?” She asked when she stood.
“Yes, I finished writing it last week. I was going to play it in Besryn. Merchants like their music quick and to speak of greed and monetary gain.” Symphony replied.
“I didn’t know music could do that.” Krystal said as they walked down the street.
“I’ve told you plenty of times. You just never remember.”
Krystal managed a smile. “That’s why I have you around. To remember and notice things for me.”
Symphony grinned, “Do we have enough money for an inn?”
They spent the night at an inn near Sova’s merchant section, devouring their dinner. At dawn, Symphony bought horses and supplies and they galloped south. Their journey took four days and was uneventful. Both remained vigilant for demons but saw none. In the morning and at night before lying down they ate their travel rations. Talk was scarce, each seeming to embrace their sadness. Krystal sobbed before sleeping and all Symphony could do is bring her close to keep herself from doing the same.
On the last day, with the sun at its highest point the travelers climbed the hill that began the Irraidian Thumb. At the top, they saw the tents.
“See! I told you she would be here!” Krystal exclaimed smugly.
Symphony looked surprised.
Pushing the horses forward, Krystal beamed as Rhea stepped out of a tent. She pulled her horse to a stop, nearly falling on the ground in her rush to get off.
“Rhea, something terrible has happened. There were demons. They killed everyone!” Krystal wailed, her smile gone as she sped forward to hug Rhea.
“I’m so sorry, Krystal. It’s my fault. Why don’t you and your friend come into the tent? You both look like you need some clothes.” Rhea said, stroking Krystal’s hair.
Krystal backed away slightly, “Okay. That’s Symphony, so you know.”
“Symphony is very welcome…” Rhea commented as all three headed inside the tent.
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