On Top of the World

(23 Fashanos 5115, The Landing)

“Hmm, I have an idea,” and with his words. the bardess was in.

“Do I need to bring money … or anything?” she asked him.

“Yer good,” he told her with a shake of his head.

They walked through the Landing’s gates (or what passes for them of late) and headed south. The sun was very low, nearing its rest in the Bay for the night. The sights and sounds of the last bustle of the day were all around them, as the creatures of the day traveled home and the things of the night began to stir. This was one of her favorite times of the day. The horizon was aglow above some clouds that promised to blow in sooner than later. But for now, the colors lay on the clouds from a safe distance like they were the discarded palette of a Master Artist.

He walked at an easy pace, not too fast, not too slow. She adored him for that. It let her mind wander without worry. She took in all the changing sights around her, including him. They got to a clearing and he paused. Around the edges, the place was infested with those fell trees that had been but stumps a month ago. Now they were saplings, growing again. Probably on unsuspecting passers-by. She looked at them with a heavy sigh. He nodded quietly at her in agreement.

They were nearing the old Hanging Inn. She wondered if that was the destination, and had no sooner wondered that than they walked past the entrance. She looked eagerly ahead, this was a path she had never been on before. As was everything these days.

There were some tricky spots along the way that took her attention, but once around them, past a sharp turn, and over a wall, her eyes grew wide. She knew where they were, even if she had not known the way. A stone giant that must have been as tall as a mountain stood in front of them. She looked up…and up…and up in wonder. The Colossus. She’d seen it in the distance on so many vistas as she traveled near the Landing over the last months.

“Oh, wow,” she barely whispered, maybe it wasn’t even audible, but only a thought.

And then surprise of all surprises, he showed her where and how she could climb up the great monument! She followed him eagerly as they made their way upwards the stone sentinel. She drew her hand across the rock in awe. She had so many questions; this was a completely unknown wonder of the world to her.

She found her mouth agape as she rounded the last corner. The sun had already set; there were only the lights of night showing against the deepening dark, but she was confident that it was a view she would want to see in the light. The mountains looked like equals to the Colossus, stars were brighter up here, plus, tonight, she was standing under the Lord of Dream’s stars. She felt like it was the top of the world, and wobbled a bit when she looked down too fast into nothing but darkness below.

He did not have the answers for her questions, but as she sat down upon the top of the Great King, they created their own small stories to fill in the magic of just being in this place. That was something else she adored about him, he’d go there when her imagination explored wonderments aloud. She knew she would need to find the background and lore of this place for sure, once she returned to the city.

The wind whistled so high up here, and it was very cold this time of year. She leaned against him and felt his warmth and support around her shoulders. It was breathtaking up here. So was he.

The young bardess tucked the top of the world away in a place within her very soul with a whisper and a soft smile.

Author: GSBardess

A young bardess named Luxelle is currently learning her trade and hoping to one day make a name for her songs in GemStone IV. Follow along with her adventures in life and song.

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