Have you read The Seekers and The Hidden yet? If not, let me whet your appetite. Below is a bonus story here about one of the characters you will meet in the story. So check out The Seekers and The Hidden, and dive into the continuing adventures of our favorite Jalseian bodyguard and doctor’s assistant.
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A Sunset Vista
By Gregory Meyer
“It’s just up ahead Ursanne. Trust me, it’ll be worth it,” said the lanky young man. The young man, barely hanging onto his teenage years, waited as his younger sister caught up to him. The teenage girl stopped staring at the surrounding buildings and jogged up to her brother.
The industrial Thyrian street held little traffic on it with most of the workers gone with their day shifts over. Only a random homeless man wandered from building to building, scavenging for anything he could get his hands on to survive. The elder brother and younger sister stood side-by-side scoping the area. Both wore old, ragged clothes in case their path became a bit messy. The last thing either sibling wanted was a lengthy scolding from either of their parents for getting their nice outfits caked in dust.
“Sorry Rald, it’s just still so strange to see so many buildings of this size,” admitted Ursanne with a sheepish smile. “It’s so different from little old Cetarion.” Rald laughed at the comment and shook his head.
“Still the small town girl at heart,” teased Rald. Ursanne rolled her eyes and gave her brother a playful shove.
“And you the troublemaker,” said Ursanne. “If we get caught by a security guard, you’re taking the fall, not me.”
Rald clasped his hands over his heart and stumbled back a step. “After all these years you still don’t trust me? When have I ever gotten you in trouble?”
“Uh, how about when we searched that cave out in the wastes,” reminded Ursanne, holding up a finger for every occasion Rald got her in trouble. “Or when you talked me into pouring stinkberry juice over Sandyr Tomkin’s head? Or the noodle inc-.”
“Okay, point taken,” sighed Rald, holding his hands up in mock surrender. “But this is legit. I’ve done this before, and the place is totally abandoned. Trust me.”
“Oh all right,” said Ursanne before placing her hand on her hip. “Now where is this Power Station of yours?”
With a twinkle of excitement in his eyes, Rald resumed their walk down the block, with Ursanne following close behind. Passing a few more factories and warehouses, Ursanne soon found herself in the towering shadow of an old Power Station. The Power Station was indeed abandoned, a red ‘No Trespassing’ sign had been spray painted on the metal door, though it must’ve been recently abandoned due to the windows remaining intact. Wanting to get out of the open, Ursanne tugged on the handle, but it didn’t budge.
“You didn’t think they’d make it easy for us, right?” asked Rald with a smirk. “Go on, show me what I taught you.”
Rald stood close to the door, blocking the view from any possible onlookers. Ursanne reached up in her fiery red hair, which she had slicked back into a ponytail, and retrieved a metal hairpin she kept on her for such occasions. Putting the hairpin inside the lock, the girl fiddled it around, sticking her tongue out in concentration. Rald kept one eye on the street while making sure his sister didn’t need his assistance. After a few moments, the two heard a click inside the lock, and Ursanne pushed the heavy creaking door open. Rald gave his sister a satisfied nod before the two slipped inside unnoticed.
Inside, the decommissioned Power Station still had equipment and gear laid out, as if at any moment workers would return and resume their duties. Rald and Ursanne passed the dormant generators and machines lightly covered in dust and cobwebs.
“That’s what we’re looking for,” said Rald, pointing at a metal staircase that led up to another metal door.
“Where does it go to?” inquired Ursanne, brushing away a stray cobweb that brushed across her face.
“You’ll see,” replied Rald, barely containing his excitement. While Ursanne was the cautious one of the two, Rald’s enthusiasm was infectious, and she swiftly followed her brother up the staircase, their clanging footsteps resounding in the eerily quiet building. Upon reaching the top of the landing, Rald pushed the metal door open, filling the dim area with bright sunshine. Ursanne shielded her eyes from the bright light, before she felt her brother tug her arm forward.
“Go on, you first,” said Rald, urging her onward. Ursanne stepped forward onto the lower roof of the Power Station letting out a small gasp as she did.
Before her laid all of Thyrion for as far as her eye could see. In front of her were the slums, followed by the Great Well, the Bronze section, and beyond that Imperial Avenue. She could see the majestic Palace of the Kyzers, the great Thyrian Library with its brilliantly decorated dome, and the imposing Defense Ministry. Taking a glance behind her, she could see the city wall that shielded Thyrion from invaders, with the great waste beyond it.
Rald placed a brick in front of the metal door so the two wouldn’t get locked on the roof. He stood next to Ursanne as she viewed everything the city had to offer.
“Was it everything I promised?” asked Rald.
“And more,” agreed Ursanne, gazing out at the brilliant sunset casting the city in a golden hue. The two said nothing for a while as they watched the miniature Thyrians walking about the city, unaware of the siblings watching their actions.
“I wish you weren’t leaving,” spoke Ursanne, breaking the long silence. “The Emperor has enough soldiers to protect the city.”
“You know I’m not meant for city life,” replied Rald in a quiet tone. “And neither are you.”
“Maybe. Just promise me you’ll come back so we can do this again,” said Ursanne softly. Rald put his arm around his sister and gave her a tight hug.
“I promise,” he said. The two stared off in the sunset, taking in the fleeting moments of their last adventure together.
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