Treasures of the Broken Garrison: Part 5- A Fantasy Short Story

(Last time, Finhaus discovered a hidden staircase within a closet. Will he find any of his friends down there? And what will Blair do now after finding Queriven in the courtyard? The story continues...)

Finhaus pushed himself back on his feet and dropped down on the first step. Taking a breath to steady himself and overcome the doubting shadows closing in his mind. He continued, each step of foot on stone leaving a tap, tap, tap.

He thought he would hear the dripping of the musty dungeon as he came close to the bottom, but his own footsteps was all he heard. This was different, but where was it taking him?

The path curved and his heart stopped when it revealed something in his way; a body with its back against the wall, a pool of blood sitting around it. Finhaus froze in horror for only a second and then he pushed himself forward, reaching for the person on the ground.

When he came within arm’s length, he saw, with an ounce of guilty relief, that it wasn’t one of his loved ones. She also didn’t look unfamiliar either… She wore Sylinna’s thin armor trimmed with starlight. It sparkled the surrounding light back at the walls, and the blood was still fresh enough to emit a foul odor around the area. The source of the injury wasn’t hard to find, as blood spilled from the arrow protruding from her neck.

Finhaus turned his head and saw holes in the wall pointed straight for him, but he couldn’t feel thankful of them being empty right now. This woman was one of Kielle’s guards, he knew. He briefly remembered seeing her before. Could that mean she was nearby?

Blood droplets spattered away from the body and further down the path. Someone else was nearby? Finhaus gave the fallen woman one last glance before leaving to follow the trail.

The further he walked, the more intense of a glare he felt on his back. Somehow, the hair standing up on his neck told him this was different. It felt like he stood before a judge, waiting for their decree of freedom or death.

So when he heard voices ahead, he nearly jumped out of his skin. Finhaus looked down at his feet, at the sticky blood not an inch from his boot. It was just as plenty as before, and still fresh. Whoever it belonged to was in great peril, if they weren’t dead already.

A groan of pain not only confirmed that thought, but also assured him that the voice ahead belonged to the person he was looking for. Finhaus rushed onward, ignoring the judging stares as he came before a large door. It stood ajar with red handprints stamped on the frame. Finhaus slipped inside and stopped with his breath caught in his chest.

Before him stood rows and piles of precious baubles, equipment, and treasures. The bars of starlight stacked on top and over rims of crates shone the brightest. Even time cannot dim a star with layers of dust, but Finhaus couldn’t help looking towards the human crystals and ores instead, as he’s never seen them up close before.

Finally, his eyes landed on another woman guard. She marked the end of the blood trail, slumped against the far wall, her hand holding her side and her face drenched in sweat. If her eyes were open, she would have seen the bewildered farmer frozen in front of her.

Being a farmer, Finhaus wasn’t used to seeing such injuries, let alone finding himself in a position where he had to do something about it. He took a few timid steps forward. “Wh-what’s wrong?”

The first time he spoke was too quiet.

It took Finhaus a frightening second to jump back into action. “Hey, what happened?”

Behind the pain and fight in her eyes, the soldier shot him with a wide stare, as if he were a ghost. He could tell she had a lot of questions, but she seemed to accept he was still among the living as he got closer. The farmer fell to his knees and tried to inspect the wound she clenched without touching her bloodied hands. It smelled worse than it looked, and there wasn’t as much blood as he expected. There was something odd about it, though…

Before she could answer, a scraping on the other side of the bricks startled him away from the situation, and a voice spoke out. “Awhn? Is there someone there with you?” Again, something about it seemed familiar.

The soldier named Awhn grunted and turned her head towards the wall she leaned against. “Yes. He just… Showed up! I don’t think he-”

Then, it hit him. “Kielle!” Finhaus interrupted and pressed his hands against the wall. “Is that you? It’s me, Finhaus!”

“Finhaus?!” Kielle retorted in both disbelief and anger. “What in the great forest wilderness are you doing here?”

“That’s not important. Where are you?”

“I’m in a foyer. I was investigating this room when I heard Awhn on the other side. I was trying to see if there was a way to move these bricks or something.”

The woman next to him groaned again and met his eyes. “I don’t know if I’m going to make it that long…”

Finhaus shot back another quick message to the wall. “I’ll see what I can do here. You keep looking.” Then, he dropped back into a squat to examine the soldier’s wound.

“Elora and I tripped an arrow trap earlier,” she explained. “I was lucky enough to walk away, but the more I moved, the worse it became. I’m worried it had something on it. I feel numb and dizzy, and Elora… Oh, Elora!”

“I know. I saw it. It’s terrible.” As Finhaus leaned in, Awhn moved her hand away so he could see the pink flesh behind a rip in the seam, beside thin plates of starlight that would have safely deflected the weapon. It still streamed rushes of red blood, but Finhaus agreed there had to be something stronger affecting her. It wasn’t deep, and yet the pain crippled her in waves of sweat, and now a slightly sweet smell mingled with the stream of blood, smelling stronger and sicker than when she covered it.

Finhaus rubbed fingers over his eyes, squeezing them shut so hard he began to feel his head pound. He couldn’t let this woman die in front of him. He couldn’t! But what could he do? “I’m not a soldier!” Finhaus cried as the woman struggled. “I’m not a mage! I’m no one of any importance! I can’t-”

“What’s going on in there?” Kielle answered behind the wall.

Finhaus’ eyes shot open, and he saw Awhn watching him. He couldn’t tell if it was fatigue or a quiet acceptance of her death that kept her features calm. Finhaus recollected his thoughts and considered the options before him. He was a farmer. He knew some magic; the kind of magic that helped him in the field.

He wiped the tears from his eyes and steadied his ragged breath. It may be all he has. He covered her wound with a hand and tried not to squeeze as he recollected a memory. In almost the same position, he held himself up on hands and knees with a deliberate palm over cold soil. Being outside in unpredictable elements, sometimes his crops and herbs fell ill. Willing magic to help keep them strong was never something Finhaus did lightly. Whenever he was needed, be it friends, family, a stranded animal, or even the crops in his field, he was always present with a welcoming intention to be a warm shelter. The steady magic that left his hand and seeped into the hole in Awhn’s side didn’t seal the wound shut, but ran through her veins, looking for poison.

Fin stood up and backed away. He didn’t know what poison affected her, and if it was anything stronger or more unique than what he might find in his soil, he doubted his magic would have any effect. As she continued to squirm in pain, more tears flooded the farmer’s eyes, and he turned away, not wanting to see whatever became of her. He was beginning to accept the worst when he heard her sigh. He spun back around before he could stop himself.

Tired, but still awake, she pushed herself to sit a little straighter. There was a bewildered look in her eyes. “The pain’s gone…” After a second of silence, she offered him a weakened smile. “If you weren’t here, I… The Center Tree could use more healers like you.”

Finhaus shook away any lingering hopelessness and came back by her side. “Oh, I’m not a healer. I’m just a farmer.” He ripped a shred from his tunic and proceeded to bandage her side.

“I know,” Awhn replied. “Your sister talks about you. Who knew a farmer would be brave enough to enter the garrison? She was right; you are more talented than what you give yourself credit for.”

“She said that?” He asked, both shocked and pleased Kielle would say such things about him. He didn’t need to catch Awhn’s nod. He stood up and brushed himself off. A knock bounced off the other side of the bricks. “Are you both still alright?”

Finhaus leaned toward the wall. “Yes, we are now.”

Kielle didn’t wait to reply. “I’ve torn apart everything on this side. I don’t know how to get to you.”

Before Finhaus could reply, Awhn leaned in. “Look for a supply closet a floor above. It had an odd, tight staircase going down. Keep going down the hall, and we are behind the first heavy-set of doors.”

In the second length of silence, Finhaus quietly asked her if she thought the staircase was still there before Kielle demanded them they stay safe and left. Awhn tilted her head. “Why wouldn’t it be?”

Finhaus blinked a few times. “Well, when I found the closet, the staircase was hidden. I had to discover it.”

“Discover it how?”

“I… Opened it…” He answered, looking at the ceiling. “With a trinket I found in another room. That meant that someone closed it after you and Elora came down…” As the pieces came together, Finhaus stood more tense. “They didn’t want you coming out.”

As if listening, a giant slam from the other side of the room made the floor tremble. Awhn bolted upright. “What was that?”

Finhaus cursed himself for not seeing the trap earlier. “The door slammed shut.” He protested her rising with a hand in the air. “But try not to worry and don’t push yourself. Take a moment to rest while I see if there’s a way we can find a way out.”

Awhn didn’t respond, but she took his advice and settled on the floor again. The pain from the toxins was nearly gone now, but the remaining wound throbbed harder in its place. She leaned her head against the stone wall and closed her eyes.

◊◊◊

Every minute it took her to reach the courtyard, the higher her fear became, like it wasn’t the fall that took Queriven from her, but time itself. Her legs pumped under her until they burned. She didn’t give a thought for hidden obstacles or weak floors.

Blair pushed past a set of doors and took in her first breath of the clean, outside air since she entered the haunted settlement. She took a quick minute to adjust. This was the courtyard, for sure. She saw it only a moment ago, but from up high, and she feared the overgrown ground would swallow her down here.

She couldn’t see Queriven from this angle, but she looked for the large broken window he fell from and began running again. She yelled his name before she even saw him, shoving and tripping over long grass. Finally, she fell by his side and gripped his arms. The soft fabric gave under her hands until she had a firm hold. She gave him a shake and call, hoping it was enough to wake him.

In her panic, she almost didn’t hear him groan, but she couldn’t miss how his face squinted, freeing a drop of blood to roll from a small cut on his temple. Panic dissipated into sobs, and she wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her face against his cheek.

Her words were incoherent to him, and while not unhappy to see her, he touched her arm, hoping she would release him from such a tight embrace. He did just wake up after all.

“Oh, I’m so sorry!” Blair cried as she freed him. “I didn’t think, I…” She sniffed and hugged her arms around herself. “I thought you… I saw you fall, and-”

She stopped when he held up an arm and beckoned her closer. She offered her a hand, but rather than pulling himself up, Queriven brought the hand to his lips and kissed. “It’s alright. I’m glad to see you’re safe.”

“Are you hurt?”

Queriven winced and glanced over his limbs and torso like he didn’t know the answer to that question. Finally, not seeing any evidence for worry, he shifted up, only to stop as pain shot through his legs. Blair flinched at his cry, and he shook his head. “My legs,” he explained. “I don’t think I can walk.”

Silence fell over the courtyard. Blair, trying to swallow a lump in her throat, looked away. In the dark, she could only make out the faint outlines of stone bricks and untidy brush and trees. If it weren’t for mysterious lit windows and the glow of a giant full moon, she wouldn’t be able to see that much. In the distance, wind blew, and an owl hooted, but they seemed miles away. The courtyard felt displaced, like a magical prison outside of the forest.

“You can’t stay here.”

Blair turned to see Queriven looking at her. She hasn’t seen him so serious since before she brought him back to his homeland. The lump in her throat returned, and she couldn’t help the anger that rose at the idea that she couldn’t, or wouldn’t, stay.

“You need to find the others.”

So this must be what Finhaus felt when she told him the same thing before he broke down her cell door. “I’m not leaving you here,” She answered in the most stubborn way possible.

Despite the troubling situation, Queriven tried to be gentle in assuring her. “Not for long, but you need to find the others, then you can come back, and we can leave this place.”

She was shaking her head before he finished, and she continued to stand like a disobedient child as he continued. “Blair, I can’t go with you, and you know I would. You’re the bravest person I know. You can take care of yourself, and I don’t give you the respect for that enough. They need you in there.”

“But what if something happens? What if one of those disruptive spirits find you? You have no way of defending yourself.”

Queriven couldn’t help but smile at her worrying. “Why would they bother with me? I can’t trouble them on my own now.”

“But-”

“Everything will be fine. Go.”

Blair came closer then and planted a kiss on his forehead, and used her sleeve to wipe away a droplet of blood on his cheek. “I love you… But don’t get comfortable, because I’m coming back for you. I’ll spend the rest of my life here if I don’t.”

When she pulled away, his expression changed for a second and she hesitated. She wasn’t meant to see it and Queriven sighed. “This is all my fault… For dragging you in here I mean. It was so stupid. It was rash and I wasn’t thinking.”

“I understand,” she assured him softly. “It was for Kielle, your sister. I would have done the same thing if it were me, and I mean that.”

Now tears rolled free of Queriven’s will. Blair tilted her head. The elf wasn’t one to cry lightly. He began apologizing harder, trying to cover choking sobs. She hugged his face, shushing him. “Are you sure you don’t want me to stay? The others can discover us here…”

He gently pushed her arm. “No, go on. I’m… Just a little shaken, but I’m fine.”

She returned a stroke on his shoulder to let him know she heard him and finally left his side. In the darkness, she disappeared quickly, but Queriven, with reeds of grass obstructing his view, noted how she turned back to look his direction several times before she was nothing but a dark shape gliding away.

◊◊◊

Finally! This has to be the storage closest with the secret staircase. Kielle gripped the handle and threw it wide. What greeted her was a space big enough to stand in, but the collection of brooms and shelves convinced her this what she was looking for. But… Where was the staircase?

She scanned the floor like she couldn’t believe the wooden floor stretched across the entire space like her eyes said they did. Finally, with a scoff, she went to close the door, but stopped again.

Was that a book on the floor? A book in a storage closet with cleaning tools? Maybe that shouldn’t have interested her as much as it did, but Kielle was curious. The book stood out after all with its amber cover. It wasn’t even dusty when she picked it up. She flipped a random page. It flopped open with surprising momentum, as it didn’t contain pages at all, but a slot with an interesting shape instead. With no words to express her confusion, she stowed the book away and walked out of the closet, ignoring the creak of the door as it closed behind her.

“Leave…” A voice blended with the whine of the door.

“Well, how can we do that when you keep locking us all inside?” Kielle answered out loud. She didn’t care if the speaker heard her or not. She sighed and ran a hand over her face. She must have checked all of the storage closets on this floor already! Where was this staircase?!

She’ll have to keep looking or find another way down there. Considering it was a hidden staircase she was looking for, there may not be many options for her to reach those rooms… Unless those were also hidden. Kielle hummed and poked her spear at the floor. She wondered what the chance was that she might find a weak floorboard or wall somewhere…

A swirl of mist began to swell. Kielle jolted back, but responded with action, swiping the weapon right through the form. With a whoosh, the mist blew in half, but then quickly reformed into the image of a stern male.

Kielle held her ground. “You don’t scare me,” She declared.

The spirit seemed to think he should, because he yelled and swiped his hand at her. The hall exploded in a burst of wind and Kielle flinched as something stung her cheek. Kielle yelled back at the ghost and ducked under another burst of wind. His back was exposed now, but fighting was pointless. Seeing the chance to escape, Kielle begrudgingly took it. Beyond the gusting winds and crashing furniture behind her, she heard the man roaring in anger about some “Garrison Treasure.” Despite his rage though, he didn’t seem to follow her. That is, unless his thin form dissipated in the air. Kielle kept going, just in case.

She stopped after a few turns where she could shut the door behind her. This was near the entrance. She’s already been down this way several times looking for closets… Kielle breathed out frustration in the form of a devastated sigh and tilted her head up, knocking it right into the wood of the door against her back. She couldn’t turn back now, not with that monster in her way. She supposed it would have been pointless anyway. There were no more closets. She hasn’t found the staircase, and she didn’t know what to do next. It was all pointless, and that made her angrier than the spirit that attacked her.

Leaning the spear in the crook of her arm for just a moment, she shook her wild red hair free and then soothed it with her palms, wiping the blood from her cheek while doing so. Once done with repairing the damage from the wind, she took up her spear again.

At the nearest closet she came across, she pulled it open and ripped the supplies and shelves with the weapon. She pried at boards, ripped shelves and hooks from the walls, and jabbed the starlight edge of her weapon into edges and trims in the wall. Things shattered, thudded, and clanged as she worked. She paid attention to none of it. Once, the spear caught on the edge of a board in the floor and she dug into it, pulling it up and out. It groaned in loud protest, but it buried no secrets.

“A true elf of Aven Forest would give more respect to this broken place of solitude.”

Kielle stopped and slowly turned around, still gripping her spear outward with both hands. The faint image of a man stood there, but it wasn’t the same vengeful spirit she encountered in the last hall. Due to him being made mostly of mist and memories of someone long forgotten, she couldn’t take in what made him different; she just knew he was, and the harder she tried to describe him in her mind, the more his image evaded her.

“Well,” Kielle whipped her hair out of her view. “If you are open to discussing it, maybe we can compromise.” She thought she saw him raise a ghostly eyebrow, but she couldn’t tell for sure. “If you tell me how to get to Finhaus and Awhn in the secret basement, I won’t have to destroy anything further.”

The ghost made a sound like a bouncing laugh and shook his head. “The garrison treasure does not concern you. When will you people learn?”

Kielle furrowed her brows and stepped out of the closet, swiping the spear to the side of her. “I’m so done hearing about this ‘garrison treasure’ business! Tell me how to reach Finhaus and Awhn!”

In a breezy blur of movement, the spirit blew inches before her face, making her wave her hand before her like trying to disperse the mist from her face. Being so near, she wanted to think this man was a human… “Nobody leaves the garrison alive! Ever since the terrible battle that left our restless souls wandering these halls, all those entering for the great treasure we still protect perish in one way or another! Why do you bother trying?”

Kielle released something between a growl and a grunt and stole her personal space back. Had the ghost been corporal, she would have headbutted him. Instead, she got a face full of living wind and the spirit rebuilt its form away from her. “How many times do I have to say it?! Take me to Finhaus and Awhn now, or I will tear down everything in my way!”

With a screeching wind, the image of the man vanished, leaving a gust blowing through the air and disbanding against the ceiling. It left a final message behind. “Those you look for are trapped in one of our last treasure store rooms, where they will die, lest they take anything we linger to protect. We know you are none the different. In all of our miserable years here, only one has dared enter for something other than treasure, and his life reached its end here as well.”

Kielle chewed on the information for a moment. “And who is that?” She asked, but found no answer.

End of Part 5

 (Part 6 coming next Saturday, June 6, 2026. Thanks for reading!)

(No AI was used in any stage of writing this story.)