“What's going on?” asked Nathan.
“I hear it too,” said Isha whose eyes went wide with excitement.
“The tunnel is flooding,” said Hanoch. Moisture filled the air as water pushed the air before it, gusting past Nathan with enough force to almost knock him down. Up ahead, the passage they followed pointed upward and ended at some narrow steps. They climbed the steps together finding a large metal door barring their way as pale yellow light seeped from underneath. Tossing the torches, Hanoch picked the lock and opened the door as the roaring sound of falling water filled the air around them. Moist gusts swirled and lifted droplets of mist high into the sky. The passage opened out on the side of Landdown Chasm behind the Falls of Forever, revealing a sheer rock wall that reached in all direction. The tumbling water of the falls spilled into the chasm only yards away, never directly touching the jagged rocks. It fell like an endless spray of diamonds, shimmering with colors as the sunlight tickled the spray in the air. Water from the flooded passage gathered at their feet with increasing force, spilling into the void of the chasm and hinting at the fate of anything that had the misfortune to fall. Hanoch took a length of slender rope and tossed it to Isha as he reached around the side of the wall, moved himself onto the rock-face and climbed up with the skill of a monkey. Nathan, looking down into the chasm below, swallowed hard and reached for a climbing point with nervous hands. The rock felt slick to the touch, and glimmered with moisture from the falls.
“Wait,” said Isha as she took the rope tied one end around her waist and the other around Nathan linking them together.
“You can't be serious,” asked Nathan.
“Would you, and your pride, like to stay behind?” she replied with irritation.
“No.”
“Then shut up and follow me.”
Nathan hesitated for a moment. Sensing his unease, she climbed far enough to tie the rope around Nathan's waist, encouraging him to take the climb.
“Move your hands with deliberate motion and make sure you have a solid grip before you let another hold go,” she prompted.
All at once, the water rushed from the tunnel mouth like a geyser, hitting Nathan's waist and legs with the force of a charging bull. The impact whipped Nathan around like a ball on a string as his sudden weight against the rope pulled Isha's hand loose from the cliff. She dug in deeper with her other hand to keep from falling but Nathan rolled back-and-forth in a spin, making it impossible for him to catch the side of the cliff. Hanoch, seeing their trouble, tried to move toward them but the water began eroding the dirt around the opening of the tunnel, causing large clods of dirt and rock to fall free. In a moment, the water would reach Isha and Nathan, leaving them a plunge to their death as the only option. Hanoch climbed down as far as he could, removed his corded sash and lowered it to Isha. She managed to grab it, holding long enough for Hanoch to pull her up for another climbing hold.
“By the fires,” she cursed.
“Move quickly, the water is further weakening the wall,” replied Hanoch.
Once Isha restored her two-hand hold on the rock face, Nathan made a desperate effort to grip a small outcropping of rock, taking much of his weight off the rope around Isha and enabling her to rest for a moment. Climbing again, Nathan hung quietly to her back with an air of humiliation on him. Nevertheless, he could not help but admire how easily she scaled the wall with their combined weight on her. There were several times during the climb that he slipped, but it never appeared to bother her. It took them several minutes to finally crest the top of the wall where they emerged on the other side of the Arnon from Pelan. The city shimmered with majestic splendor, poised on its elevated outcropping and straddling the mighty Arnon. Nathan wondered how Elhan and the others were, but also what his future still held. Something waited for him on the southern plain, whether good or bad, he couldn't tell, but he knew he had to go and see for himself. They skirted the edge of the chasm to finally see the edge of the plain with its rolling hills stretching as far as the eye could see. A warm breeze met them while they trekked southward, caressing their faces with the smell of the plains grasses as a glorious golden sun dipped toward the horizon. Thankfully, it helped them forget how many miles they had put behind them.
“There is a small community ahead in Warehaven. They should have an Inn,” said Hanoch.
“Do they have a bath?” said Isha.
“I suppose,” Hanoch said flatly.
“It would do you some good,” Isha said to Nathan. “You smell like a pig.”
“I beg your pardon, princess. I’ll try to stay downwind of your sensitive nostrils,” Nathan wisecracked.
“See that you do,” Isha rejoined with a sly grin.
Hanoch approached Isha and leaning toward her, whispered in her ear.
“So, you’ve told him?” asked Hanoch.
“Told him what?” she snapped.
“That you’re of royal…”
“No. And if you do, I’ll send you back to your Branch in a sack.”
“A simple ‘no,’ would have been fine,” said Hanoch.
Just before nightfall, the lights of the hamlet glimmered over a distant hill, giving them reason to pick up the pace. When they entered Warehaven, the moon drifted low in the dusky sky. Only a few thatched-roof homes and workshops scattered the town, but as they had hoped, the first thing to meet their tired gaze was Haven's Rest Inn. Rough cut timbers and shaggy hewn planks with lots of pitch held up the two floors of the structure. It was functional, but nothing to brag about. That, of course, mattered little since Haven's Rest stood alone as the only tavern for miles in all directions. Inside, smoke from the pit-fire filled the air like a haze, rolling around till it found the hole in the roof above as the sound of clinking tankards rang. All eyes followed the crew as they approached the innkeeper who stood wiping a long bar with a dirty rag. As they approached, he swiped a thin tassel of matted gray-black hair out of his face and looked them over carefully. He knew trouble when he saw it.
“What’ll it be?” asked the keeper.
“We need some rooms for the night,” said Nathan, noticing several swarthy men walking up behind them.
“We’ve only two left and it’s a silver-piece a night for each, even for tomewrights,” he said.
“I’m not a tomewright.”
“Of course,” he replied with sarcasm.
Isha passed the coins to Nathan who slid them across the counter to the keeper who inspected them carefully before sacking them away with a smile.
“Look fella’s, it’s a little girl in her wedding dress,” behind Hanoch a large brute with a thick brown beard kept bumping Hanoch from behind with his bulbous gut.
The brute’s bushy beard rested on a barreled chest and draped across well-muscled arms that told a story of raw power. He wasn't of giant blood, but he might as well have been. He towered head-and-shoulders above everyone else in the room and thick limbed to boot.
“I’m talking to you sweetie,” the man mocked.
He wore all the tattoos of the wetland raiders who prey on unsuspecting passersby that get to close too ‘The Defiles’. It’s easy enough to attack, pillage and then disappear into the marshes where no one dare follow. And, as the locals can attest, many women and goods had disappeared that very way never to be seen again. Hanoch turned to meet the brute’s gaze with his own unshakable stare that held the coldness of a viper. Isha made a motion, but Hanoch's upheld hand stopped her where she stood. Behind the raider stood two of his companions who were less massive but no less malicious in appearance.
“These are the clothes of my Branch,” said Hanoch dryly.
“Oh, he's a fearsome Venger now. Is that supposed to scare me little boy? Are you in the ‘Pretty Boy Branch’? I should set you across my knee for lying,” said the raider. “Besides, I've been chased by them mongrels before, and none have lived to collect.”
“Why don't you leave the boy alone,” said the keeper.
“And why don't you sh
ut your trap before I put my knife in it,” said the raider as he drew a long, jagged dagger from his belt and pointed it at the keeper.
Nathan looked on in dismay as Hanoch calmly grabbed the raider's massive hand, bent it backward and took the knife in one smooth motion. The sound of snapping bone echoed in the room as the raider screamed and then stared in disbelief at his broken wrist. The pain turned to rage as he threw his other massive fist at the boy. Hanoch causally deflected the blow with his right hand as though swatting a bug, grabbed the fist with his left and guided it into a nearby support beam where it connected with a sickening crunch. Then, nimble as a cat, he climbed the raider’s back, wrapped his legs around the brute’s neck and spun around. This whirled the raider backward, smashing the thug’s skull into the floor with a resounding crack that left the man motionless. Casually, the young Venger turned toward the brute’s companions.
“And you?” Hanoch addressed them with cold contempt.
Raiders liked having the advantage over their victims and they quickly understood that this wasn’t the case with Hanoch. In spite of his youth, he dripped with an icy confidence that un-nerved them so they slowly backed away and left the Inn.
Afterward, Hanoch nonchalantly sat on the man’s chest and prepared to plunge the knife into the unconscious raider when a familiar voice rang out.
“Don't kill him!”
From the back of the room, Dodie stood up and approached the crew, munching on a joint of meat. “His people live on the other side of the Defiles and are very tight knit. If you kill him, they will come by the dozens and hunt you as long as they breathe.”
“So,” Hanoch said, still holding the knife over the raider.
“That just gives them a reason to pillage and kill more innocent people. Besides, don’t you have better things to do?” Dodie reasoned.
At that, the young Venger paused, stood to his feet, sank the knife to the hilt in the nearest support beam and broke the blade off at the hilt. Dropping the broken handle on the floor, he gave a heavy sigh and rejoined the group.
“Agreed,” he said.
Nathan and Isha could hold themselves back no longer and threw their arms around the portly tomewright.
“We thought you were dead!” exclaimed Nathan.
“Almost was, but I float better than most, thank the Eternal,” said Dodie as he patted his belly. “Who is your…interesting friend?”
Hanoch approached Dodie, bowing at the waist and introduced himself in the formal manner.
“Hanoch of the White Branch, it’s always an honor to meet a tomewright,” stated Hanoch.
“Keep your voice down,” hushed Dodie as he turned to Isha. “How did you come by this one?”
“It's a long story,” recounted Isha.
“Then please join me at my table for some food,” said Dodie.
Their stomachs were in no mood to refuse, so they promptly joined him. As they ate, Dodie told them of the camps of giants scattered across the plains, attacking all who come near whether man or beast, and Isha updated Dodie in return.
“It is the oddest thing I've ever seen. They’re from both the Nephilim and Raphaim kingdoms but didn’t bring tents for shelter,” said Dodie. “They build large campfires, but don't appear to cook anything or even sit by them for warmth. It's unnatural.”
“I've never known the separate giant kingdoms to join for any other purpose than war,” said Isha.
“I agree, but they wear no armor, carry no weapons, and have no chariots to ride into battle. But, that is not the most disturbing thing. The entire group simply sits, stares into their campfires and cuts themselves with sharp stones. They don’t talk or move around,” said Dodie.
When Dodie said that, the rest fell silent. Nathan's heart sank within his chest as an overbearing feeling of foreboding gripped him. It strained the imagination to think what the combination could be and to make matters worse, there were so many of them. Unexpectedly, a tall, cloaked man approached their table, his face and body were hidden beneath, but the tips of his long blonde hair peered out from under the hood.
“May I join you,” he said.
“Push off, this is a private party,” Dodie blurted.
“I think you're going to need what I have to say,” said the stranger.
“I think you're not listening,” said Isha, as she swung a fist toward the man's face. With the speed of thought, the man lifted a hand, caught Isha's fist in mid-flight and held it tight in the same place he caught it and try as she might, Isha couldn’t budge it. Hanoch sprang with a roundhouse kick to the man's midsection, only to have his leg glance off the target like a pebble off a wall. Hanoch grabbed his leg, grimacing ever so slightly with pain as he fell to the floor.
“I came to help, not to fight,” said the man as he released Isha's fist and pulled back his hood.
“It has been some time since we met, Rashiel. My apology for the rude greeting, but I wouldn’t have thought you’d come here,” said Dodie.
“Malakim are natural watchers, so you'd be amazed at where we actually are,” said Rashiel. “But that’s not important. Your friends in Pelan were captured.”
“That's impossible, Elhan is too good for that,” Nathan retorted.
“Not even the Malakim are all powerful. Elhan and his companions were taken, but that's not all. Conner plans to sacrifice them on the full moon,” said Rashiel.
“We have to go back,” said Nathan.
“And do what?” Dodie interjected. “It would take an army to storm the prison they are in.”
Nathan bit his lip for he knew Dodie was right. Their small force would have no way of succeeding and once again a feeling of helplessness ran through him. However, something stuck in his mind that he heard before.
“Why hasn't Conner attacked yet? What is he waiting for?” asked Nathan. “If he has everything he needs, then why isn't he doing something?”
“There is obviously something that he lacks before he can make his play,” said Isha.
“I’ve heard from my sources that Ramoth Refuge has also fallen at the hand of these giants. If Shechem under Mano’s control, then they are taking down the ancient refuges in the east,” he asked Dodie. “According to tomewright lore, the refuges have long been places where Elyon’s power is more concentrated.”
“It’s not just the eastern refuges. Both Golan and Bezer in the west have also been destroyed,” said Rashiel.
“Perhaps, if the refuges are removed, all eyes in the west would turn to Pelan,” said Hanoch.
“But why use giants? Why not hire the Vengers to do it?” asked Nathan.
“Vengers wouldn’t work. It’s not that they are against mercenary work. But in this situation, they would see no value in attacking a refuge,” said Isha. “However, by using giants, it would appear as though the giants were provoking war again.”
“The Zumzummin Kingdoms are not happy about the situation. The Regent of the West at Meheleth City is demanding an explanation and gathering troops. The giant kings appear as confused as anyone else as to why their warriors are there, and why they won’t return when summoned,” said Rashiel.
“What is the nearest refuge to where we are now?” asked Nathan.
“That would be Kedesh Refuge,” replied Dodie.
“Then let’s go,” said Nathan.
They pondered his statement for a moment until Dodie drew the nerve to break the silence.
“And do what?” asked Dodie. “It’s an army of renegade giants.”
“Where I’m from, the ancient text records an account of a young boy who defeats a giant champion,” Nathan replied.
“Then perhaps you should go and get this boy. Because if they attack, they will drop that refuge around our ears.” Dodie said.
“Look, I’m not David. But if there is something I can do to help them, I plan to even if I go alone,” said Nathan with conviction
Dodie stared into Nathan’s eyes for a serious moment as though he were pondering a deep my
stery.
“Maybe you are a seer,” said Dodie in a serious tone.
“You’re not in this alone Nathan, look around you,” said Isha.
The young seer looked into the faces of his friends as an embarrassed shame crept over him. How could he let himself become so selfish? It was their fight too and they had as much, if not more, to lose.
“I’m sorry. You’re right,” he said.
“What does your star-cloth tell you,” asked Dodie.
That’s right, he’d almost forgotten about it. Nathan slowly took it from its resting place inside his shirt and examined it with new interest.
“I don’t understand. Bero Refuge is Northeast and the brightest point of the star directs south,” said Nathan.
“Then south we go,” said Dodie.
Twenty-Four
“The Binding…”
The morning found Hanoch tending horses while Isha gathered supplies. Dodie worked through night to replenish his supply of tracts for the trip. As they set out across the plain, Nathan scanned the horizon as the morning sun mounted the sky. Its crimson fingers of light brushed the earth as a faint breeze swirled the tall grasses, making them sway like slender hands waving goodbye. He took a deep breath and felt a sense of purpose pulling him to the rolling hills in the south. Upon departing, they followed the edge of The Defiles southward toward Lake Ith, being careful not to get to close too the edge of the cursed wetland.
“Tell me about Ariel City,” Nathan said, turning his face to Dodie.
“There's not much to tell that is not legend. It is an ancient city that was old when my grandfather was young. According to the tales, it once served as the capital city for all of the empire and held the palace of the Emperor himself. I've only been to the ruins one time before, and never actually entered it,” said Dodie.
The Last Refuge Page 24
