Just before the shadows of dusk stretched themselves long and black across the rocks of the mountain pass, Hoxley found the last place suitable to make a camp for the night before they traveled any further. To venture higher would take them above the snow line without the aid of proper torches or lamp would be an unnecessary risk no sane person should be willing to take. It was here that the prince’s patience had reached its limit.

  “This is the campsite?” The prince asked with disappointment. “There’s barely enough room for all of us to fit beneath this overhang. Where are we going to build a fire?”

  “We can build no fire here.” Idris told him. “It would be unwise.”

  “Curse what’s unwise,” he stomped his boot. “We’ll freeze to death in our sleep!”

  “My king,” the man said, attempting to be diplomatic. “The light from the flame would alert anyone looking for us of our presence. Besides, what would you have me burn for a fire? There are no trees this high, no kindling, and I have no flint or steel to even begin…”

  “Then have the witch make fire.” He pointed toward Robert. “His kind can do it without kindling or would. They can summon fire at will.”

  “I could ask him but I don’t think he’ll agree.”

  “I’m not starting a fire here.” Robert said, interjecting himself into the conversation.

  “Oh? and why not?” asked the prince, now growing more infuriated.

  “Did you not hear your man’s words? The light from any flame would any and all looking to kill or apprehend us.”

  “Not even a small one?”

  “Not a spark from me.” Robert crossed his arms and looked away. “It would be unwise.”

  “But I’m cold!” he stomped again.

  “We’re all cold, my liege.” Idris attempted to console him. “It is the nature of our surroundings just as the desert was hot. Perhaps if we could…”

  “If you can’t give me what I need then what good are you?!” Prince Damron exploded. The whites of everyone’s eyes doubled in size at his outburst. Idris’ shoulders sagged from the prince’s words and turned away in disappointment.

  “You’re out of line, your highness.” Ignatius told him. “Your man is correct. There will be no fire.”

  “It is his job to give me things I want. His purpose is to serve me to the best of his ability.”

  “And that’s what he is doing. We are doing our best to keep you hidden. Even if he had the means to make you a fire, I would not allow it since it would endanger not only you but the others in the party.”

  “You can fly where you want at any time you choose!”

  “Yes, and still I am here, nonetheless. That should mean something. Hoxley will have an idea on how we can make it through the night, don’t you Hoxley?”

  If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

  “Without fire, our only option is for all of us to huddle together and use the blankets that Bohga gave us for added warmth. The overhang and angular pocket of the recess in the rock will keep most of the wind at bay. It won’t be pleasant, but we won’t freeze to death either. As always, one of us will stand guard throughout the night. I don’t believe anyone else would be on these high paths during the dark hours but we can’t afford to let our guard down. We’ll each need good rest as treacherous icy paths will await us as we approach the crest tomorrow. I will take first watch.”

  “You see?” said Idris to the prince. “A solution has presented itself.” As he said this, the last of the sunlight that had guided them all day said bid them goodnight and slipped beneath lands far away. As it got dark, a voice spoke from within the prince’s pockets.

  “Is it safe to come out?” asked the voice of his stowaway.

  “Yes, everything is shadow now.” Everyone watched in amazement as a sentient shadow the size of an adolescent girl came pouring out of the prince’s clothes. Like a fountain shooting darkness into a girl shaped container the darkness began hitting the ground in the form of two feet, then legs, then a torso, arms and everything up to the top of its head. Each person watched in awe as the shapes morphed to reveal a black feminine form painted like glowing pinpoints of a star-filled sky with a pair of glowing white eyes glaring back at them. The mouths of those who beheld her went slack.

  “I’ve never seen such a thing.” Hoxley gasped aloud. Idris stepped between her and the prince. His sword hand quickly unsheathing his sword.

  “You!” he exclaimed “Who are you? How do you come?”

  “I know not who I am, but mean none of you any harm.” She spoke from a voice with no mouth. “The night has come and now the shadows of the land have become my world.”

  “Such a thing should not be.” Idris said as he moved closer attempting to touch the shadow with the tip of his sword. The others watched as the shadow girl stood still and saw the end of the mans’ sword vanish into the outline of her torso. Even she looked curiously upon the metal vanishing into her form. More of the sword entered her until the blade was half gone. More surprising than this was her hand reaching up to grasp the blade and hold it still. Idris attempted to pull it back. It remained solidly in her outline, immovable as stone. He yanked and grunted to get his weapon back to no avail before finally letting go. The sword hung midair until the shadow reached out with her other hand and grasped the handle flipping it around. Such a sight of a ghostly girl wielding a sword became terrifying as no one knew of her intent. Idris placed one arm out to position the prince behind him. She looked the sword over from tip to hilt.

  “A fine sword. A finer sword if used by the hands of the virtuous for good deeds. Are you a virtuous man, Idris?” she asked.

  “I am.” He replied. “I want only for the betterment of my rulers’ kingdom and peace for all.” She then turned the sword around and offered it back. “Then by all means, protect your king.” Idris reached out and reluctantly reclaimed his sword before putting it away. “I am in debt to each of you for delivering me from my prison in the desert. I would not harm any of you.”

  “If you are made of shadow,” Morell asked aloud. “Is your body not the entire night?”

  “I feel that can be true.” She said Her outline began to double in size time and again until she was bigger then Bohga the cyclops, bigger than a castle gate. Her proportions grew in size until she was as large as the mightiest of titans.

  “Holy pumpkin bread…” Siouxsie let slip.

  “Pumpkoo…” said the voice beneath her hat. The shadow girl had become so big that she towered over them and they were practically looking at her ankles until she took a few steps back and squatted down. Her face alone had become the size of a house and when she put her hands down to lean in and inspect them, the members of the party felt like insects being spied upon like a great hungry bird. Her glowing white eyes were each the size of mature oxen. As bright as they were they projected no luminescence of their own but hung midair as ethereal globes watching them.

  “You’re all so very tiny.” she spoke. The girl had no mouth yet her voice resonated from a space near where it ought to be. Her voice had magnified with her size and when she spoke Hoxley could feel her hair shifting from it.

  “Have you no name?” asked Morell

  “If I had one, it is unknown to me.” The large eyes blinked before glancing away in thought. “Perhaps in time it will be revealed. For now, I would like to remain as I am and explore the night. I’ve been a prisoner in too small a place for too long and I must be free if only until the sun returns. I will return to you before dawn, my friends.” With that, she turned away and stepped over the deep gap between the passes with her giant legs and disappeared behind a cluster of crags.

  “What if she doesn’t return?” Morell asked Hoxley

  “Then I suppose she’s on her own.” She replied as she leaded against her spear. “If she doesn’t, then at least she’s in an environment where night comes and she’s not imprisoned beneath a rock.” It was then that her stomach growled loud enough for everyone to hear. “Perhaps I should have a bite to eat before I start my watch. We should all take a few bites from our rations before we turn in so we’ll sleep well.”

  “I have something that may help with that!” Morell said as he took his pack from here, put it on the ground and began rifling through its contents. “The air is different up here and it makes us sluggish and tired but I may have just the remedy. Ah, there it is!” He reached in one last time before pulling out a small glass jar stuffed with stringy twisted orange mushrooms that looked so odd compared to his other samples. “Behold, Cordyceps Hepialidicola!” He held it aloft for the others to see. “I’ve been studying them for over a year now. They can help with keeping energy and stamina. They could help us breathe easier in this climate.”

  “I want one.” said Siouxsie, jumping to stand at his side. “They’re safe to eat?”

  “Yes, very!” he smiled, eager to uncork the jar for her. “They don’t have a lot of flavor, but their effects are worth it to ingest them.” The stopper came free and she pulled one of the orange strips out and began chewing voraciously. “Here, take a piece.” He held the jar out. Everyone took a piece before munching the fungi.