Thalon and Jhenna approached a group of three people. Two of them were taller than Jhenna and Thalon recognised them as Kandarsen and Althelia. The third was a short, muscular, young man with a dour expression.
“This is my half-brother, Denkarsen. You’ve met Althelia and Kandar.”
“Any comments you want to get out of your system before we start?” asked Denkar brusquely.
“He’s very sensitive about his height,” muttered Jhenna.
“No, I don’t, my friend. I’m Thalon, by the way.”
Thalon extended his hand but didn’t expect Denkar to take it.
“Good. Let’s get on with it then. Jhenna, my brother sends his regards.”
“Hasn’t he gotten over that yet?” asked Jhenna with a sigh. “At least he didn’t propose this time.”
“As fascinating as this is,” interrupted Althelia, “could we possibly move along? We need to be ready by noon.”
“Yes, Althelia,” muttered Jhenna contritely.
“Now then,” explained Kandar, “Althelia will go first, followed by Thalon and Jhenna. Denkar and I will stand on either side of Thalon. The important part is this: none of us may speak or change position once we enter the Shadows.”
“I understand,” said Thalon.
“Good. Stand behind Althelia and try to relax.”
“Don’t try to use magic,” added Denkar.
“I do understand.”
“Good. We’re going to shield you.”
“Element based shields,” added Jhenna.
From that point, the siblings ignored Thalon’s presence. Jhenna and Althelia joined hands with their brothers.
The group was surround by glowing shields in four different colors; red, white, green and blue.
"Fire.” said Jhenna in a low voice.
“Destroyer and Preserver of Life,” chanted the four of them together.
“Air,” said Kandar.
“Breath of Life.”
“Earth,” said Denkar.
“Mother of Life.”
“Water,” finished Althelia.
“Elixir of Life. The bond of Blood combines their power.”
The multicolored lights darkened to form a single, black, shield then vanished.
“You are now invisible to the eyes of the Shadows,” said Jhenna. “Noon approaches. Prepare to see the Gate of Shadows.”
The siblings dropped their hands. Althelia turned to face the border and raised her hands.
‘This is interesting,’ thought Thalon.
In Althelia’s hands was a smoky, black and red, sphere.
“With Blood of Shadow and noon-daylight. I open the Gate to the Realm of Shadows.”
Althelia half-chanted the ritual words. As the sun reached its zenith and shone light through the orb the air in front of them split open. In place of the desert a dark, barren, land of jagged black rocks and gravel.
“Ready?” asked Althelia. Casting another shield she added, "Shadow shield. It hides the life light. I’m the only one who’s actually visible. Now no talking until we leave.”
She started walking across the featureless land, looking straight ahead, and not speaking.
‘This is interesting indeed’ though Thalon, as he followed Althelia.
Occasionally they caught brief glimpses of tall, vaguely man-shaped, figures in the distance.
At one point in the journey in the journey, one of them approached Althelia. It was taller than her and dressed in a black hooded robe.
“Greetings, Lady Althelia.”
Althelia groaned inwardly when she recognised the voice.
‘It had to be him didn’t it?’
“Lord Vyran,” she replied, smiling politely. “What an unexpected surprise.”
As Althelia said the newcomer’s name Kandar and Denkar very firmly gripped Thalon’s arms and motioned for him to be silent.
“I was thinking the same.”
“I had a fancy to visit the human Realms. The desert air is just so terrible for my complexion!”
“Indeed,” agreed Vyran, sounding amused. “Well, if you happen upon any Forest Elves, give them my regards.”
Althelia smiled, wishing fleetingly that she could give Thalon his ‘regards’.
“I shall. As a favor to you.”
“No doubt you’d enjoy it.”
“How well you know me,” agreed Althelia.
“My thanks. Now, I must continue upon my journey.”
“Good journey to you.”
“And you,” he replied, disappearing into the distance.
“Do not say a word,” muttered Althelia. “Just walk. He has full Shadow power here. He’d kill you in a second if you challenged him.”
Thalon nodded reluctantly and kept walking.
‘He is like I thought. This is not good.”
Some time after that, it was difficult to tell in this changeless realm, another cloaked figure approached them. This one was taller and the cloak was decorated elaborately.
“Freeze!” hissed Althelia. She stopped and curtseyed to the new arrival.
“Althelia.” said a deep male voice.
“High Lord Dyalyn.”
“The elf Caliana was expecting you,” stated the Shadow Lord.
“Oh?”
“Perhaps we have been misinformed.”
“I could not say.”
“No. I suppose not. Very well, you may continue. We will speak when you pass back through.”
“As you wish, High Lord.”
“Here is your exit. A deserted part of the human Realm, It’s about five days from the Port City.”
“Thank you,” said Althelia as Dyalyn opened a ‘door’ in the air. Expressionlessly he held it open long enough for all five to pass through.
On the other side of the door was an empty road. The door behind them disappeared.
“You can talk now,” said Althelia.