Editing Tears of a Fallen Crown:Characters:Mirage:History (section)

==Chapter 6:  A New Beginning==


The journey was a long one, even with her father’s fastest horses.  All four of the Arabian stallions were strong and fast, but they still had to make many stops along the way to give them water and rest.  They had an entirely enclosed wagon filled with locked boxes that contained everything her family thought they would need.  They had two nice Lamellars, a Great Sword, a chopping sword, some martial arts weapons, a good supply of tools, raw metal to begin working into weapons and armor, and some blasting powder as well.  She also had enough clothing to fit every occasion and enough rations to last all the way to The Lap.  Her family had also personally given her a great deal of money in gold, jade, and jewels as well, so they could buy anything they had forgotten to give them.  


There were many small towns on the way to The Lap, but they couldn’t stay long at any of them.  Her appearance was still slightly disturbing, even when the wound on her forehead was almost entirely gone.  So, she bought what they needed and left quickly, not wanting to arouse anyone’s suspicion.  


Along the way, she and Caleb couldn’t communicate very often, since manifesting himself took a lot out of him and sometimes would take him several days to recuperate.  Still, he would manifest whenever he could, if nothing more than to talk to her to make the journey faster, or to tell her what was going on in the Underworld along the way.  Oddly enough, it seemed that he was already in the Underworld when he didn’t manifest.  So the planes seemed to be right on top of each other, something she never knew was possible.  He couldn’t really see what was going on in reality, but could always tell where Samira was, being connected to her.


As they got closer and closer to The Lap, Samira began to feel as though an invisible force was pulling her.  She felt like they were very close to finding the place she needed to go – and it wasn’t The Lap.  Finally, one day, she saw what looked like heat waves in the distance, and she said slowly, “I think the entrance is right here.”  She slowly approached the mirage, and found that it was indeed like a shimmering wall.  It reminded her of what the cart had passed through when they entered the Wyld.  She readied her weapon, took a deep breath, and walked in, leading the horses and wagon behind her.  


Suddenly, she could see Caleb as though he were a normal person, only very slightly transparent.  The land around her looked the same as it had on the journey, only slightly more desolate.  She could also see the forms of other ghosts, slightly transparent and floating around in the distance.  And, even though she had never been to or heard the word before, she knew where she was.  She said softly, “Ah, we’re in a Shadowland.”


Caleb looked confused, “A Shadowland?  How do you know?”


She shrugged, “I don’t know.  It’s like I remember this from somewhere…like a past life or something.  But how I know isn’t important.  At least now I do know one thing; we need to wait until nightfall.  When nightfall comes, and we leave, I’ll be in the Underworld with you.”


Samira was right.  When she left the same way they had come in at nightfall, she was in the Underworld.  It didn’t differ much from the Shadowland, except for the fact it was a lot drearier.  And here, Caleb looked like a real person, not transparent at all.  He was so real they could touch.  And, oddly, that made her feel better.


As they pressed on, the landscape seemed to get drearier and drearier, even more so than the desert itself.  She also discovered a road with a decaying wooden sign reading “To Dari of The Mists.”  


“Well,” she said slowly to Caleb, “I guess that’s as good a place to start as any.  Let’s go.”


Off in the distance she began to see what looked like a very old city, dull and gray and almost blending into the horizon.  As they got closer she also began to notice that it looked suspiciously like the way The Lap had been described to her by her father, only more deserted.  Still, Caleb noticed the strangest thing of all, stopping as they approached the gate, “Mira, they’re all ghosts!”


They were indeed all ghosts.  All of the guards, citizens, and even animals were ghosts, some even floating around the city some walking as though they were still living.  They were all interacting as ordinary citizens, acting alive even though they clearly were not.  Still, somehow instead of feeling afraid, Samira felt somehow at home.  She nodded at Caleb and smiled dryly, “Then we should fit right in.  Let’s go.”


To Samira’s surprise, the ghosts immediately opened the gates for them.  The guards even bowed saying, “Welcome to Dari of the Mists, My Lady.  You grace us with your presence, My Liege.”


Samira and Caleb were receiving many uncomfortable glances as they passed.  The ghosts just seemed to naturally clear the way for them as they made their way to the first inn they saw.  They checked in, but the ghosts wouldn’t accept her money, saying, “Real money isn’t any good here, but you’re welcome to stay on the house.”


When they reached the privacy of the room, Samira turn to Caleb and sighed heavily, “I wish I understood what I am.  Clearly this is the world I belong in, but I still don’t know how to fit into it.”


A commanding voice from the doorway made both her and Caleb jump as it said, “Perhaps I can enlighten you.”