They stood before the gate. It was not closed yet. But they did not walk through either. Both stood staring. Jerome hadn’t been near the tower and he was fascinated by its sheer size. Elyar because he was not sure how his father would react.
“Ready?” Elyar said.
“Oh yeah. Sorry. This thing is massive!” Jerome said with his mouth wide open as his head tilted back looking at the towering building.
Elyar began walking and Jerome jumped to catch up. They crossed the courtyard only seeing not a soul. The sun was just setting but it seems that most of the servants had left. The fortress was engulfed in golden rays from the perishing orb. Soft reds mingled in places creating a magical scene. As they reached the steps the door opened as a servant let them in. Jerome nodded and thanked the servant while Elyar searched for any sign of his father.
Looking at the servant Elyar asked, “do you know where Lord Cane or Lord Edaam reside?”
The servant nodded, and without a word, started walking toward the dinning hall. As they entered the corridor lighted by digitorches Jerome stopped and stared at one.
“What is this!” He whisper yelled.
Elyar looked at him confused. “Have you never seen a digitorch?” “A what?!”
“A digitorch. They are all over the Great Hall. It is how we light our hallways. What do you use?”
“A freaking real torch!” Jerome answered in bewilderment. “What kind of weaving weirdness is this?”
“It’s not weaving. Actually I do not know how they work.” Elyar res ponded as they turned into the hall.
The servant briskly walked toward the conference door and opened
it for them. With his other arm he gestured for them to enter. Elyar stepped through with Jerome behind him. He heard the door quietly close behind him as he saw the small group before. His father and Lord Cane stood over the map on the table with a few other lords and high ranking soldiers. They all looked their way and Elyar heart started beating just a little faster. He had not expected this many people.
“Ah, Father, can I speak to you for a moment?” Elyar quietly said. Lord Edaam looked at the men, sighed, and stood while motioning for them to go back outside.
As the door closed behind Lord Edaam Elyar began, “I have been thinking. While I understand the importance for me to go on this venture, and I am by no means questioning you, nor asking to be sent somewhere else. I do think there is something to be said with another from the Feud joining.” He stopped to gauge his father’s reaction. He was stroking his beard as he listened. It looked like he was trying to understand what Elyar was saying. “I think it would be better for two pairs of eyes to witness the events, and in the case of my death, to tell you what happened.”
That startled Lord Edaam. “You might be right, my boy. Your mother would be beside herself if something happened to you and she was not told the details.” He stood for a minute longer, hand in his beard. “Very well. I assume you had someone in mind?” Edaam said while glan cing at Jerome.
“Yes, I have gotten to know Jerome on this trip, and I believe that he is just the man we are looking for.” Elyar said gesturing for Jerome to approach.
Lord Edaam looked Jerome up and down considering his son’s words. Jerome stood awkwardly fidgeting with the hem of his sleeve.
Elyar saw a loose thread that he was pulling at.
“Tell me, Jerome, would you risk your life for my son?” Edaam sudde nly asked.
“Of course, mi lord. I have sworn to protect all those under the
Great Hall.” Jerome quickly replied snapping to attention.
That made Edaam laugh. “At ease young man. I believe your heart to be true. You may go as my son’s squire. Serve him, protect him, and make sure he comes home safely.”
Elyar smiled knowing he had at least one friend on his adventure now. He saw a smile try to appear on Jerome’s face. But he did a pretty good job hiding it while still at attention.
“At ease man.” Edaam said while placing his hand on Elyar’s shoulder. A look of pride and concern flashed over his face. He squeezed his shoulder and said, “I’ll inform Lord Cane. He won’t have a problem with it.”
Elyar nodded as he thanked his father. He watched as he reentered the conference hall leaving Jerome and Elyar alone in the large, quiet room.
“I guess that is that.” Elyar said his voice echoing off the walls a little. “Yep.” Jerome replied.
They stood for a moment longer, Elyar thinking about what they had just gotten themselves into. Then he began walking. Jerome began walking in step. They left the hall in unison, then the fortress, and as they passed the walls Elyar was a few steps ahead of Jerome. He didn’t notice Jerome stop right outside the walls.
“Wait.” Jerome said. As Elyar turned around and looked at him he continued, “why me?”
“Why you what?” Elyar responded with a brow raised.
“Why did you ask for me to join your adventure when you could
have asked any of the more experienced men?”
Elyar thought for a second before responding with a laugh, “I like your songs and your not half bad to talk to?” He then turned and began walking again.
Jerome took a few steps, but he resumed walking next to Elyar. They continued side by side until the reached the barracks. They walked into the Hunter’s room and laid down on two open beds on the oposite side as the others. Everyone else was fast asleep. Elyar hadn’t realized how late it was until he saw the moon at its zenith. Sleep came quickly.
Elyar stood in a clearing. Gray and broken trees rose out of the dead, hard earth. The sky was black. No cloud could be seen, but neither could the stars. Elyar looked around and dread entered his heart. He was in another nightmare. A bitter cold breeze groaned through the limbs and through his soul. A shiver coursed its way through his body. He tried to breath deeply to steady himself but he struggled because of the coldness of the air. It stung his lungs like little knives stabbing him.
As he turned to observe his surroundings, he saw a broken stone tower. Seeing no alternative he began walking toward the building. His steps were the only sound he heard. And they barely made a sound. No animal or leaf to break the oppressive silence. Walking started warming him up, but he had no cloak to wrap himself with. His shivers lessened.
But the cold never left him.
Eventually he neared the tower. Dark stone spiraled up into the night. Creeping vines wrapped its strangling tendrils up the stone suffocating the tower in green and brown. Before him stood a crumbling archway where a door once stood. Wooden and iron fragments were the only testaments. Elyar slowly walked under the doorway. Warmth crept into his body, but he didn’t feel comforted.
Inside the tower there was little to see. He noticed more broken stone and wood. Only one circling stairway hung the inside of the tower. He approached and put some of his weight on the first step. It felt safe. He looked at the other steps and they looked healthy enough. He began to slowly ascend.
Around and around he went until eventually he reached a landing. There had been no windows except for two openings where a stone used to reside. He could see the world growing below him. Only marshes and dead trees.
Creepy. He thought.
The landing opened up to him. A circular wooden platform with a closed door across from him. Nothing else stood in the room. As he approached a colder grip clasped his heart. Colder than the outside wind had been. His heart was already beating quickly, but as the grip sealed around him his heart intensified even more. He reached out to grab the latch. He lifted the metal hinge and began pulling the door toward him. The last thing he heard was laughter that sounded like it came from the dead.
He heard himself yelling as he shot up from his bed. Jerome stood over him shaking his shoulders while the other Hunters stood around his bed. Most of them had concerned faces. All except Ruzur that is. He stood with his arms crossed, shaking his head.
Panting, heart pounding, and sweating profusely Elyar looked around trying to regain his composure. Jerome looked concerned, but sat on the edge of his bed in silence. After the rest realized he wasn’t going to tell them why he had awoken them they all shuffled back to their bunks. Elyar heard Ruzur mumble something under his breath. It soun-
ded like, “kid has not even left yet and he already has nightmares.”
He was not sure which annoyed him more: how he woke everyone up, his nightmare itself, or Ruzur’s distaste for him.
“You ok mi lord?” Jerome finally asked.
“Yeah. I’m fine. Just had a nightmare, I guess.”
Jerome looked at him for another second. Elyar did not think he had convinced him, but he got up and went back to his bed. He pulled the covers over him and tried to go back to sleep. It took awhile, but he fina lly drifted into an uneasy sleep full of dead trees and weird towers.
Finally, the sun’s rays broke through the windows declaring the dawn of a new day. Elyar heard the rustling of the Hunters as he slowly opened his eyes. He blinked a few times as they adjust to the light. As he throws the blanket off him he shifts himself into an upright position. He then dons on his travel clothes and light armor that was provided for him. He lifts his sword and attaches it to the clip on his belt. Everyone starts walking toward the door. The Hunters are quietly chatting, but Elyar and Jerome say nothing.
As they stand on the field watching the Century assemble Frem and Declan approach Jerome and introduce themselves. They clasp arms and begin chatting. Elyar heard Jerome say that he is there because they needed an experienced warrior. He smiled at the man’s nonchallance. He heard laughter from the others as well.
At least Jerome will fit in nicely. He thought. Then he saw the captain command the Century to begin marching. They marched in five columns
of twenty. Nicely lined up in their shiny, polished armor. Shields and spe-
ars hung on their backs and their swords swinging by their hips. They were an impressive sight. The captain and sergeant both quickly moun ted their horses and positioned themselves in the rear.
The Hunters looked at Frem who stated, “well boys, time it be!” With that they all walked over to a group of e-steeds Elyar had not noticed and mounted. There were two left over so he and Jerome quickly hoped on and they all got in line.
It was slow. The soldiers walked faster than most people. But no where near what an e-horse could trot. They meandered through the city as people gawked at them. Kids waved as parents pulled them toward themselves. Elyar smiled at a few and most smiled back. Even a few young women threw flowers or petals at them or in front to honor their mission.
Finally the column reached the outskirts of town and took a road heading north. At this point Sergeant Willard moved beside Frem and Elyar saw them exchange quick words. They rode for a few more minu tes before he broke and went back to his cousin.
Frem raised his right arm and turned his e-horse around to face them. Elyar was getting the hint Frem was the leader of their group.
They all stopped and positioned themselves to hear his instructions.
“Sergeant Willard has informed me that we are the scouting party. We are to head to the villages and try to find a guide before the Century arrives. He hopes to save some time.” Frem then quickly turned his mount, motioned for it to gallop and sped off.
The rest did the same and they quickly sped past the column. The air flew past Elyar’s ears and blew his obsidian hair around. He loved this part of riding. The world around them changed slowly. Flat plains turned into rolling hills dotted with small cloves of trees. The grass was thick and tall as it waved in the soft breeze. It reached about knee high on the e-steeds. There were clumps at the end of some stalks that when grabbed contained little seeds.
Elyar’s joy faded as the day grew. It was replaced with discomfort and pain as his legs began and butt began to ache. The steady rhythm of their e-steeds lulled him into a trance. His thoughts wandered as his body kept the steady pressure to keep his place in the group.
Grass. Now all he saw was grass. Swaying, rustling, or speeding under him as he rode. A sea of green. Different shades of green. But, green none the less. Glimpses of a river flashed by every once in a while breaking that perfect green sea. Its dark black line tracing the distant edges of his vision.
After what felt like a lifetime of riding the sun began to set. Quickly the scene transformed into a world of reds, oranges, yellows, and purples. Even the green ocean changed. Suddenly it became a vibrant watercolor of green mixed with blackes, purples, and a variety of the three. Elyar came over one particularly tall hill and his breath was taken away. Before him lay a small valley full of flowers dancing before him. It was like the
meadow near the Great Hall, but vastly larger. The sun set to his left cast ing its golden arrows across the valley multiplying the beauty.
Standing tall amongst the flower soared giants. Elyar could not tell what type of giants. But tall beings with their arms stretched out stood before the riders. They approached them quickly. Frem raised his hand and the group stopped before the first of three. He stood well above their heads. Unmoving, unswaying, a stalwart in the valley.
Now that he was close enough he could tell they were not alive. They were made of metal in fact. He rode closer and placed his hand against the steel. It felt cold, wet, and rough under his palm. Like steel, but very old.
“What is it?” Elyar asked turning around as Havol rode up next to him.
“No one knows what they are nor where they come from. They be called the Watchers. Legends of old say that once upon a time a mighty war waged over these lands. Long before Korax and the empire.” He looked past the giant. His face looked like he was thinking about a life long ago.
“Information needed to cover long distances quickly. It is said these were once living giants who would cry a message from one to another. A
message could travel hundreds of miles in a matter of hours. Then, a mighty weaver cursed them to be steel. That is the end of the legend.” He ended his story with a pat on Elyar’s shoulder and another glance at the steel giant before him.
With their story done Frem called for the Hunters to make camp. They chose a grove of trees near the giants as their base. Havol took one of his axes and started chopping some wood. Ruzur and Declan explored the hovel for loose sticks.
“Defenses?” Frem asked as they came back.
“Not as strong as I would like,” Ruzur answered, “but the trees and underbrush provide some cover.”
“Very well then, we will post a man within the trees and a man on the edge of the line.”
A fire roared to life under the experienced hands of Havol. Each man set up a small tent circling the fire. Elyar set his tent near the treeline and Jerome set his besides his lord’s. He peered into the dark trees as the fire danced across the bark. He turned back toward the light and saw the men sitting down eating from small bags of seeds, nuts, and the like. He sat down across from Frem as Jerome handed a similar bag to the others.
“From your saddle, mi lord.” Jerome said.
“Thanks, Jerome.” Elyar said as he took the bag.
The group sat around the fire without speaking much. Elyar’s body ached all over. His thighs were stiff and his back ached something terrible. Their silence was not due to any thought of danger, but it seemed to Elyar that everyone was dreadfully tired and no one had the ene rgy to speak.
As they sat he thought about their journey. First day was not complete. He had been told earlier that it was a three day ride and the Century would be another three days after. He figured that gave them five days to investigate the few villages in the Reach and find a guide.
As he was lost in his thoughts a quiet song began. He looked up and saw Jerome playing a small guitar. He sat and listened for awhile until he started feeling like he understood the song. The song transported Elyar far into the night. Into lands unknown. He closed his eyes as the music took him. But before he knew it a hand was shaking him awake.
He stirred and opened up his eyes. The fire had died down to a small flame. Frem stood above him and quietly said, “it is second watch. Our turn.”
Elyar nodded and slowly stood up. If he thought he was sore and achy earlier he was mistaken. NOW he was sore and completely stiff. He took another second stretching and trying to ease his muscles. Frem motioned for Elyar to take the watch outside the firelight while he moved to watch in the tree line.
He quietly walked over to where Declan had been sitting and took a seat. He placed his sheathed sword across his knees and looked into the abyss. Stars twinkled in and out filling the sky with a thousand tiny dots. They illuminated the outline of the horizon and the giants a few dozen yards away. As the night paced Elyar’s thoughts drifted between Kristiana, what Pyke had told him in the tree, and the few nightmares he had.
The time crept by until he saw Frem reemerge from the trees and he knew his time was up. He gave one more glance around before standing up and walking back to the camp. Ruzur had been awaken and was starting to replace him. He slipped into his tent, placed his sword next to his roll, and closed his eyes.