Earth and Sky (Entry 84)

by Hayley Thomas

Dear diary,

After several days of travel — first to Galienne’s lair to convince the dragonnels to bear us skyward, and then back across the countryside toward Keralon — we finally reached the Temple of Air. Or rather, the flying citadel that houses it.
It was a breathtaking sight: an entire fortress adrift in the heavens, gliding in lazy, majestic arcs over the city and the plains beyond. The air shimmered around it, laced with ribbons of light where magic anchored the impossible in place. For a moment, even I forgot to breathe.

That moment didn’t last.

No sooner had we approached than a formation of enormous eagles rose from the clouds — wings beating thunder into the sky. At their head flew a creature even larger than the rest, and astride its back rode a giant clad in silver and stormlight. They circled us like vultures judging whether the prey was worth the effort, and the lead giant’s voice boomed across the air: a warning to turn back before they made us regret the climb.

Fortunately for us, bluster doesn’t always mean bloodshed. They didn’t attack immediately, leaving a narrow window for diplomacy — and we took it. I told them why we’d come: that we sought the Stone of Air, but meant no harm to their home.

The response was not unexpected. The giant barked that the gem’s magic kept the citadel aloft, and that surrendering it would mean sending their home plummeting to the earth. Fair, really. I’d be protective too, if gravity were the price of generosity.
Still, Gael — bless his ever-patient optimism — managed to convince the giant to at least speak to his leader. We explained that we didn’t need to take the gem, only to connect with it. Reluctantly, he agreed to escort us.

Our strange aerial convoy descended through the cloudbanks to a vast courtyard of white stone and gold filigree. There, surrounded by the soft hum of sustained magic, we dismounted and were led through sweeping halls that seemed to breathe with the wind itself.

At last, we stood before the citadel’s master — Vespera, a cloud giant whose very presence seemed to command the air around him. His eyes glimmered like the horizon before a storm as he looked us over, surprise flickering across his features that we’d made it this far.

When we introduced ourselves, his expression hardened.
He said he’d had poor experiences with the knights of Keralon.
On that point, at least, I found myself in rare agreement with a giant.

Luke and Gael — ever the silver-tongued pair — managed to convince Vespera to grant us access to the Stone of Air, if not its custody. He was firm on that point: the gem would not leave the citadel. It was, after all, the very thing keeping his people from plummeting to their deaths. Reasonable, but inconvenient. He did, however, hint that the stone’s use might be negotiable — for a reward of substance, as he put it. Something grand enough to tempt a giant who already lived among the clouds.

For now, he promised to consider what he might want in return and allowed us to examine the stone under supervision.

We were escorted through the citadel’s interior, following corridors of pale marble that breathed with enchantment. The walls shimmered faintly, as if light and air themselves were woven through the stone. Finally, we arrived at a massive chamber that thrummed with living magic — and with danger.

A behir uncoiled lazily near the entrance, its scaled hide glinting with an electric sheen. Twelve clawed limbs shifted restlessly, and the creature’s pale eyes watched us with a predator’s calm. Beside it stood another giant — broader than Vespera, his hair like stormclouds, and his gaze sharp with suspicion. He introduced himself as Thalosius, guardian of the chamber and companion to the creature.

The Stone of Air hovered in the center of the vast room, suspended within a lattice of crackling currents. Its surface rippled like liquid sky — beautiful, alien, and impossibly ancient.

Luke approached first, his face illuminated by the shifting light. He spent long minutes tracing the energy lines that radiated from the stone, muttering half to himself, half to the weave. When he finally turned to us, his expression was tight with reluctant awe.

“It’s beyond me,” he said quietly. “To reproduce this spellwork would take an archmage of immense power — perhaps one who understands the original covenant that keeps this citadel aloft.”

Thalosius listened, arms crossed, the faintest smirk ghosting across his face.

“You’d do well not to meddle with what keeps us in the sky,” he said. “The behir—my companion—is bound to the Stone. Its essence is what keeps the current steady. And more curiously…”

He paused, his eyes glinting with meaning.

“The Stone channels a stream of energy into the runestones at the edge of the Lorewood. We left it untouched for that reason. Best not to unravel what ties earth to air.”

A revelation, and a useful one. We thanked him and withdrew, my mind already turning over the implications.

Back in the high halls of the citadel, we met Vespera once more. Luke relayed his findings and, with characteristic cleverness, proposed an alternative: instead of removing the Stone, we could link our magics — exchange teleportation circles. A bond between sky and earth. That way, we could return swiftly if ever needed, and they to us.

Vespera’s expression softened, though suspicion lingered in his eyes like gathering stormclouds. He considered the offer in silence for a long while, the air around him stirring faintly as if thinking with him.

“I will need to speak with my partner,” he said at last, his voice low as distant thunder.

And that was that — a pause in the storm, though the air still hummed with possibility.

Vespera kept us waiting for half an hour — long enough for the air itself to grow restless. The winds that coiled through the citadel’s halls seemed to whisper possibilities, none of them reassuring. When he finally returned, his stride was measured and his expression unreadable.

“We have reached a decision,” he said, his voice rolling through the chamber like distant thunder. “The exchange of symbols shall proceed. Your teleportation circle for ours. But,” he added, his tone firming, “such a bond must be tempered with understanding. I will send one of my own to you, to see how your kind live and govern. In return, one of yours will remain here — an ambassador between cloud and stone.”

The request was both shrewd and fair. We agreed without hesitation, sensing the rare opportunity before us — a bridge not forged in battle or deceit, but in trust.

Moments later, he summoned our new companion: Vess, a young Aarakocra woman whose feathers shimmered like pale gold in the lamplight. She stepped forward with eyes bright as the open sky and a smile that carried the reckless excitement of flight itself.

“I am honored to join you,” she said, her voice soft but full of music. “To see how those of the earth move through their days — to learn what the wind cannot teach.”

We welcomed her with genuine warmth. It felt… right, somehow — the idea of the sky itself sending one of its children to walk among us.

Not long after, we were airborne once more, astride our dragonnel companions. The floating citadel dwindled behind us until it was no more than a drifting shape against the clouds, a promise carried on the wind.

For once, there had been no blood spilled, no curses uttered, no shadow hanging over our victory. Just the quiet satisfaction of a task well done — and perhaps the beginning of an alliance born not from necessity, but from hope.

Continue reading...

Entry one: The trials

Entry two: The bramble

Entry 3: Rosebloom

Entry 4: Hearts and Dreams

Entry 5: of ghosts and wolves

Entry 6: Hillfield and Deals with Fae

Entry 7: mysteries and pastries

Entry 8: The scarecrow ruse
6th of Lug, 121 Year of the Tree

Entry 9: A betrayal of satyrs
7th of Lug, 121 year of the Tree

Entry 10: The fate of twins
8th of Lug, 121 year of the Tree

Entry 11: Cursed twins
10th of Lug, 121 year of the Tree

Entry 12: Loss and despair
11th of Lug, 121 year of the Tree

Hayley's rules to being a Witch

Entry 13: the price of safety
12th of Lug, 121 year of the Tree

Entry 14: A golden cage and fiery tower
13th of Lug, 121 year of the Tree

Entry 15: A trial by fire
14th of Lug, 121 year of the Tree

Entry 16: Keralon
15th of Lug, 121 year of the Tree

Letter to Luke 1

Letter to Luke 2

Letter to Luke 3

Letter to Luke 4

Letter to Luke 5

Letter to Luke 6

Entry 17: I shall wear midnight
1st of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 18: peace in our time
2nd of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 19: Caern Fussil falls
3rd of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 20: I see fire
4th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 21: Cultists twarted
10th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 22: Ravensfield
14th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 23: The Hollow Hill Horror
15th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 24: Burn your village
16th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 25: Ravensfield burns
17th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 26: There will be blood!
21st of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 27: A happy reunion
22nd of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 28: The embassy ball
23rd of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 29: The fate of Robert Talespinner
24th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 30: A royal summons
28th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 31: of Dogville and Geese
29th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 32: A boggle named Pim
30th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 33: A deal broken
1st of Aran, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 34: The cost of doing what is right
2nd of Aran, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 35: A dish best served cold
9th of Aran, 126 Era of the Tree

entry 36: Cornu returns?
10th of Aran, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 37: A letter from Amarra
11th of Aran, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 38: The case of the (not) missing villagers
14th of Aran, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 39: A curse broken
15th of Aran, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 40: Into the Lorewood
18th of Aran, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 41: Cabin in the Woods
19th of Aran, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 42: Myrdin and Anaya
20th of Aran, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 43: Into the Immerglade
21st of Aran, 127 Era of the Tree

Entry 44: A tale as old as time
22nd of Aran, 127 Era of the Tree

Entry 45: The truth
23rd of Aran, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 46: Luke's Ordeal
24th of Aran, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 47: The festival
26th of Aran, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 48: Trouble at the Cathedral
2nd of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 49: Quinn's court
4th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 50: onwards to Latebra Velora
5th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 51: Where is my cow?
6th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 52: Here be dragons
7th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 53: Dragon hoard with a side of scarabs
8th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 54: Leave the basilisks alone
9th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 55: Return to Ravensfield
10th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 56: The needs of the many...
11th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 57: Dreams of Sister Willow
12th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 58: wetlands be wet
13th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 59: Baron Perenolde
14th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 60: Talebra Velora and the lady Morenthene
15th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 61: Cypria
16th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 62: Dragon takes Knight
17th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 63: Return to Talebra Velora
18th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 64: Your presence is “requested”
19th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 65: I stand alone
20th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 66: A day of normalcy
21th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 67: Into the Neverhold
22nd of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 68: The Warg King

Entry 69: Chased by birds

Entry 70: Whitewail

Entry 71: Nimmerhold

Entry 72: The menagerie
29th of Gobu, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 73: To the library!
30th of Gobu, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 74: The people's tournament
First of Mannan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 75: Nimmerhold party
First of Mannan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 76, The return home
Second of Mannan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 77: A week of peace
10th of Mannan

Entry 78: The tomb of the First King
11th of Mannon, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 79: I had a dream
12th of Mannon, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 80: The ritual for Sister Willow
14th of Mannon, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 81: Trouble at the Briar Ring
15th of Mannon, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 82: My day as a crocodile
21st of Mannon, 128 Era of the Tree

The return of the twins (Entry 83)
22nd of Mannon, 128 Era of the Tree

Earth and Sky (Entry 84)
26th of Mannon, 128 Era of the Tree

Wolf's Rest betrayed (entry 85)
30th of Mannon

The end of a chapter (entry 86)
first of Edon, 128 Era of the Tree

On the road (Entry 87)
second of Edon, 128 Era of the Tree

The Red Knight (Entry 88)
7th of Edon, 128 Era of the Tree

Dear uncle… (Entry 89)
8th of Edon, 128 Era of the Tree

Cut the bridge (Entry 90)
10th of Edon, 128 Era of the Tree

Home (Entry 91)
13th of Edon, 128 Era of the Tree

A tale of two shadows (Entry 92)
16th of Edon, 128 Era of the Tree

Earth and Sky (Entry 84)

Continue reading...

Find your way!

Resources

WHO WE ARE

LEGAL

Get the news

Listen to our Podcast

Our Allies