The Evershade Cliffs were not quite what Jano was expecting. Though nothing about flying into a city could be considered regular and he was feeling rather sick as they landed at one of the distinctive landing areas set out throughout the city. It was a clear white circle amongst rusty rock, which seemed to have been regularly cleaned and polished to keep it that way.

It was getting noticeably warmer in the lands of the Skybreakers. The rock which the rest of the city was built seemed to absorb it. As though it was some kind of power which it didn’t dare allow to leak out. But as they had got closer, the heat seemed to waft towards them in waves.

The city itself was nestled in the shadow of the largest mountain that Jano had ever seen. It craned over the landscape threatening and sneering at the land below. The city itself seemed a small one to host an army and much smaller than the sprawling city of Qursa and more akin to the lands of the Molinia Alliance, if they were all squished together.

“Stay close to me. I will release the rope as people around here are not used to seeing prisoners. Know that if you try to run, I will catch you.”

Knowing the threat to be of substance, Jano hastily agreed. “Of course. Where you lead, I will follow.” Jano felt his limbs become heavy and his energy drain. He couldn’t run if he wanted to.

Trajan loosened the rope and tucked it away neatly into a satchel which clung to his chest. Jano rubbed his wrists. They were red and raw with the chafing, even though the rope could have been much tighter. The Skybreaker looked at Jano in the eyes before he turned and began to walk. Jano jumped with fright as he heard the beating of large wings and someone ushering him out of the way.

He quickly followed Trajan into what looked like a side street of the city. The ground below was tightly packed but not paved. The reddish dirt was compacted deliberately, so as to create a smooth and even surface. It was so well done that barely any dust was kicked up even as they turned off the small street into one of the busier carriageways.

Trajan made sure Jano was there before he started to walk amongst the traffic. It was so busy that Jano thought he would have difficulty keeping track of his captor. He needn’t have worried. The Skybreakers were of all shapes and sizes and almost none on this street were the size of him. It was so bizarre, that Jano began to wonder whether they were truly kinsmen. They shared the same shimmering dark brown skin but they otherwise looked nothing alike.

A great whooshing sound bounded through the air just above them. Jano looked up and assumed it must be several arrivals heading for the landing circle. Instead, he watched as four giants with an assortment of bright coloured wings flew upwards towards the towering red cliffs. They seemed to career towards the wall, having gathered speed before disappearing into the rock face. Confused, Jano moved his head from side to side.

He heard Trajan ahead. “Keep up or you’ll get lost. It’s not far now.”

“Where did they go?” He couldn’t help himself asking. He got no response, so he pushed through a couple of smaller Skybreakers and found his captor’s side once more. He repeated himself, this time a little louder.

The Skybreaker did not break his stride, nor look at Jano. He cut across his captive and took a left down a narrow side street. It was winding and quiet, with only a few people at the sides in the shadow of an awning or shop window.

“Full blooded Skybreakers make their homes amongst the cliffs. The higher one’s home is on the cliff, the higher their status. Usually.”

Jano looked at the Evershade Cliffs once more, this time he tried to focus his eyes. He thought he made out small pockmarks in the rock, but it didn’t start until it was almost out of his vision. “People live up there!?” His face struck an almost dumb expression, though it made sense from a defensive perspective.

If Jano didn’t know better, he could have sworn he heard Trajan utter a laugh. They passed through a series of more narrow streets, each one seemingly more claustrophobic than the last. Jano looked up the thoroughfare to see jetties of upper stories all falling in over the narrow walkway. He saw people in one of the windows looking down at him and shuddered.

If two fully blooded Skybreakers met in such a street, they would exchange pleasantries and then agree something called a glide. One would do a small jump and without fully extending their wings, pass softly overhead. As Trajan was burdened with Jano, it was always their duty to remain on the ground.

When Jano asked if this happened many times, Trajan gave a short answer. “This is a shortcut.”

Jano thought it was odd that a group of citizens who could fly, did not do more of it within their home cities.

After a little more cutting through awkward passageways to beat the crowded main streets, Jano found himself looking upon a large building of red stone which looked over the rest of the street. There didn’t seem enough space to him to pass through, and it reminded him a little of the Slums back in Qursa. Though if anyone was embarrassed about their surroundings, they gave no sign of it.

Trajan pointed. “We’re heading in there. That’s where your friend should be. And the Mindweaver too.”

Jano realised his palms were now damp and he felt his heart rate quicken. He had grown used to his Skybreaker companion, even if he was technically his captor. Now the threat of having to persuade others of his non-aggression seemed to overwhelm him. Though it wasn’t like he had much choice, he couldn’t escape the Skybreakers even if he wanted to.

Great stone doors stood ajar as they passed through. Jano’s eye caught the basics of the mechanism by which the heavy doors opened and shut. Though the guards which were standing either side seemed more than capable of pushing even those monstrosities aside.

The entrance was a grand hall. The ceiling of which arced as high as two or three floors. It was painted with some battle or other as two armies rushed at each other. On one side were a group of snarling men, some on horseback and with crude magical attacks forming behind them. On the other side were the Skybreakers, their glorious wings carrying them to victory.

Two sets of swirling staircases curled upwards on either side of the hall and ahead lay a grand looking doorway. Trajan spoke to one of the guards on the inside of the building and then obviously receiving his answer, he began to walk on again. The guards glanced at Jano but they didn’t seem to acknowledge him as a threat. Why would they? He thought as they towered over him.

The stone was ancient. Much older than some of the newer buildings which littered the streets outside. Jano could feel it as he reached out with his spirit and started to gather its essence. It filled his spirit with the ancient knowledge and power of the surrounding rock. If he was more skilled, he was sure he could use the contractual bond between him and Dariea to alert her to his presence, but he hoped that the stronger his spirit could become the easier he would be to find.

Once they passed through the grand hallway, they exited via a series of doorways, each strafed by little decorations here and there. Statues and paintings were everywhere. A thick smell of spices seemed to get stronger as they walked. Jano noticed small ceramic pots with several sticks of something poking out of them. A thin line of smoke lazily drifted out releasing the odour. They took a left a little further down into another corridor and Trajan led them to a small room, its walls littered with books with a single guard outside.

Inside sat a small figure, an old Skybreaker with the remnants of wings either side of her body. They were jet black rather than the brilliant colours of the others.

“Honoured Mindweaver, I am here with a captive to seek your guidance.”

The Mindweaver made a small movement with her hand and the thick stone door shut tight. With a second motion, Jano found himself pushed back by an invisible hand onto a hard wooden chair with his hands bound behind his back. Though there was no rope.

He shuddered in fear before trying to calm himself. Deep breaths he thought. Until the small woman rushed towards him. Her movements were too fast to be natural and the world grew dark.