The pair rode beneath the glowing moon. The horses were tense as they trotted through the chilly air. The occasional distant howl of a wolf, or the screech of a night owl kept them on edge. But it took only an hour before the ominous form of a stony barrier filled the horizon. Blair was surprised by how quickly they had reached the bounds of the lands of Aeleos. He'd imagined them further off from the alliance city.
In another twenty minutes, they arrived at the base. The wall was broad and tall here, a solid mountain standing sheer and impassable. But where the mountain failed, large chunks of rock were piled in the gaps, making the wall of Aeleos a quite imposing sight to behold. Blair turned his horse now west.
“What exactly are we looking for?” Sorren questioned.
“A place to make our mark.”
Sorren smiled at him curiously, as though happy for the challenge of ferreting out the information he sought. But they rode for an hour in silence. The barrier northward was quite varied. Some parts of it were tall and broad, while other sections were low. Building such a wall as this must have been a massive project. The giants had clearly done the best they could with the materials available to them. They'd sacrificed uniformity for efficiency.
“How far away do you think we are from K'venneh?” Blair asked.
“We are far northeast of it. Many leagues.”
“More east than north? Or more north than east?”
“More east than north, I say.”
Blair nodded and continued on. They had to find just the right spot if this was going to work. The moon was descending over the horizon and would soon be gone from their sight and Blair picked up the pace while they still had the favor of its light. But it departed swiftly and they were left with meager starlight. It couldn't be many hours till sunrise. No one knew how zealous the patrols of Kester were, and the outpost Devek, from which Bowen had originally come, was somewhere close by also. Blair didn't want to be caught out in the open in daylight, rightly discerning that the north was being very carefully watched.
Aravas had described to Sheabor a place along the wall where the surrounding hillside sloped up at an even pace – hilly, but not mountainous save for one peak, which rose up sheer and tall. The wall was lower there because it sat atop the crest of a broad hill, a naturally more defensible position. Where the hillside ended, it abutted a large mountain that had been partially demolished and harvested to build the nearby wall.
They quickened their pace as the night wore on. The horses were none too happy, but acquiesced for the time being. Blair spent the time doing his best to analyze the wall beside him. It was difficult to gauge its thickness. But at times, when descending down a hillside, he could almost make out the top of the wall in the distance. It was at least six feet thick at its thinnest point, and perhaps twenty at its thickest – quite a variance.
After a few hours of silent plodding, a faint glow appeared on the horizon behind them, as dawn swiftly approached. But Blair still hadn't seen what Aravas had described.
“We'll need to stop soon,” Sorren said.
“I know. Just a little bit longer. We haven't found what we're looking for.”
“If we're spotted, the horses won't have the strength to make an escape.”
“It can't be far,” Blair assured.
Sorren clenched his jaw. Though he was technically under Blair's command, he was also tasked with his safety. Before them, a pale blue glow filled the morning sky, while behind, the horizon glowed with the orangy pink of sunrise. Blair saw a small mountain in the distance. It was close. Less than a league. That could be it.
He spurred his horse faster onward, who complained with a grunt but obeyed. Sorren followed suit. With the faster pace and lack of rest, the horses showed their discontent, neighing and grunting their displeasure. They were so close but the horses would alert any nearby to their presence. When they had come halfway to their destination, Sorren drew up his reins and stopped, Blair doing likewise.
“Look,” Sorren said, and motioned to what looked like a troop of horsemen off in the distance. They were heading in a direction parallel to Blair and Sorren but far to the south.
“We must seek shelter immediately, or we'll be spotted.”
“Let's just get to the mountain.”
It was a few thousand paces away. If they could just make it that far, they'd be safe. Sorren took up a position to the left of Blair, ready to depart and engage the band of soldiers if that's what it took for Blair to make his escape. The horses had just about run out of steam when the pair arrived at the mountain base. Sorren watched the far off troop as Blair dismounted and came swiftly to the mountain face. For long moments, he watched them silently as Blair placed his hands on the rock, feeling about.
“The soldiers are heading this way,” Sorren declared. “They've changed their direction. You must work more quickly.”
“I need a minute. How much time do I have?”
“Not more than two minutes,” Sorren replied, drawing his sword.
Blair glanced over with a smile. From the stories he'd heard, Sorren would probably welcome the chance to take on a whole patrol of soldiers. But not today. Blair came to the corner where the piled rock of the wall leaned up against the face of the mountain. Placing both palms on the face of the wall just beside the mountain, he watched it swirl around them. To the amazement of Sorren, Blair sunk both hands into the stone, up to his palms and then pulled, scooping out a large chunk of the stone.
Then Blair stepped inside, scooping out more chunks and taking advantage of the natural gaps between the stones of the wall until he had dug a narrow corridor at least halfway through the wall. Blair could hear the gallop of horses in the distance and worked quickly, almost too quickly. For the wall began to shift and buckle, threatening to crush him. Blair's horse was spooked and fled and Sorren dismounted his own, grabbing their satchel of food and then striking the horse on the hind quarter, sending it away and running into the gap in the wall.
“They're nearly upon us!”
“Just a few more seconds,” Blair said.
“Find them!” they heard the nearby shout.
Feet stomped down on the ground as a dozen soldiers dismounted their horses. All was darkness as Blair worked to break through to the other side. Sorren was hovering close, watching Blair plunge his hands into the rocks, moving them aside or scooping out whole sections. Then, with a flash of blinding light, Blair broke through to the other side. Shoving the rock out of the way, he burst through, followed quickly by Sorren.
“You have to seal it!” Sorren shouted.
“What do you think I'm doing?”
Blair pulled his palms back and in unison, smacked one against the mountain and one against the corner of the wall, fracturing it and causing the already weakened wall to buckle, loose rock sliding down to take the place of the gap Blair had made. The soldiers on the other side yelled out in fright. Then Blair turned to Sorren with a sigh of great relief.
“I hope this was part of the plan,” Sorren said.
Blair smiled.
“They aren't going to stop you know,” Sorren continued.
“They won't cross the wall,” Blair said.
“I hope you're right.”
Then the pair turned round in great surprise to see a lush land standing before them. The green grasses stretched away, and a nearby lake shone a deeper, more pure blue than either of the pair had ever seen. It was a paradise beyond description. They had reached the lands of Aeleos.
Ariadra
Ariadra's sister, Aerova, sped away from Baron, tears of bitter grief flowing from her eyes. What had she done? Time seemed to stand still. She could still go back...still tell Baron everything. But the Forest Guard were close, surrounding her in the darkness of the forest. Her father had made a delicate arrangement with them. Aerova had done her part and now she just wanted to disappear.
How had it all come to this? Aerova paused, her heart beating wildly. She didn't want to return to the
city. How could she? How could she face Ariadra after what she'd done? But two figures of the Forest Guard appeared before her.
“We cannot linger,” one said. “Come with us.”
Aerova's protest did little to waylay their hands from grabbing her by the arms. For though her father had enlisted their help, it wasn't out of goodwill they'd agreed. The Forest Guard knew that killing Baron could lead to war but the order of Whinden wouldn't permit him to enter the city either. Tohrnan had given them a solution to the problem. The Forest Guard brought Aerova back to the gap in the wall, where two others lingered keeping guard.
“The council has been informed,” one guard said. “Bring her at once.”
Aerova's eyes were filling with tears. She had never felt like this before...like a prisoner in her own home. At once, they carried her to the council chamber, whose members were just beginning to arrive at what seemed to be an emergency session. Glancing around for her father, she didn't see him and her heart began to beat wildly. What had she done? Whinden arrived and took his place at the head of the table, gazing at her with glaring eyes. Aerova was on the verge of breaking down.
But just then, Tohrnan entered the room, coming to stand beside his daughter with a confident smile that told her not to speak but to trust him. Aerova felt a wave of relief but her whole body began shake as she stood there silent before the council. After all the members had made their way inside, the Forest Guard were dismissed, leaving them alone.
“You lied to us, Tohrnan!” Whinden screamed, exploding to his feet.
His hands were shaking and his eyes enraged.
“Tell us now why we shouldn't lock you both away forever!”
“Because we've averted a catastrophe,” Tohrnan replied. “One which you laid blindly in Ogrindal's path.”
Whinden seemed struck that Tohrnan would suddenly accuse him and his eyes narrowed, seeing that Tohrnan was calm and had prepared himself for this conversation.
“If we were blind, it was only because of your deception,” Whinden replied at length. “You told us your daughter had no attachment to the Builder from the alliance city. You are the one to blame for this!”
“Which is why I was the one to fix it,” Tohrnan replied. “Forgive me, but where the well being of my daughter is concerned, I take matters into my own hands. What would you have done when the Builder showed up here to Ogrindal? Would you have had him killed...imprisoned...sent away without even speaking to Ariadra? All of these would have spelled certain doom for Ogrindal. You know as well as we that love is as strong as death...its jealousy, unyielding as the grave. What I have done was for my daughter as well as for Ogrindal. The Builder is convinced never to come here again.”
The council members glanced to one another and murmured among themselves. Even Whinden's gaze softened from its rage as he looked to his fellow leaders. It was clear they had mixed feelings toward Tohrnan. Though he had in fact done the only thing that could be done, he had done it by deceit and by keeping the rest in the dark.
“You have abused your position as a member of this council, Tohrnan. I move for an immediate revocation of your status as council member.”
All grew silent as the words hung in the air. Tohrnan straightened his posture and took in a deep breath. He had expected as much and was ready to face the consequences. But no one had yet seconded Whinden's declaration. A vote could not be held.
“Since he is so apt to act on his own accord without the counsel of his peers, why even be a member of this council?”
“I second,” said one.
“Take your leave outside,” Whinden said. “We will welcome you back when and if we find you deserving. If not, this will be your last visit to these chambers.”
Tohrnan gave a low and honoring bow to the members gathered. Then he and his daughter departed into the cool air of evening.
“Come on,” he said, taking a deep breath and watching it transform to vapor. “Let's go home.”
“But what about their decision?” she asked.
“It doesn't matter,” he replied. “You and your sister are safe now, and so is this Baron.”
But Aerova hesitated. He saw the guilt in her eyes.
“You did what you had to do,” he said, putting his hands on her shoulders. “If you hadn't gone out to meet Baron in the forest, he'd be in a dungeon now, or worse.”
Aerova nodded but his words brought little comfort as she still gazed to the ground.
“How can I ever face her again?” she asked.
Tohrnan sighed, knowing what a terrible position he'd placed his daughter in.
“If she finds out what happened, she'll forgive us in time, knowing what the alternative would have been.”
“You aren't planning on telling her?”
“Not yet. Not with Baron still so close by. She might do something foolish if she thinks she could still get to him.”
It felt so wrong, what he was saying. Aerova's heart beat wildly. The way Baron had looked at her. The heartbreak in his eyes. How could they do that to him and Ariadra without even giving them a fighting chance? Aerova felt her whole body shaking as she stood there.
“Come on,” he said. “You're freezing.”
But it wasn't the cold.
“Have we really done everything we could have to help her?” she said, her voice panicked and hurried. “I just...I don't know.”
“I understand what you're feeling,” he comforted. “In time it will pass. You'll see.”
But Aerova's heart rebelled at his words. Things had all happened so fast. She'd done her duty and was spirited away by the Forest Guard before she'd had a second to think.
“Let's go home,” Tohrnan said.
But Aerova's despair was giving way to anger and she looked up to him with vengeful eyes.
“No!” she yelled and ran off.
“Aerova!” he called out after her.
But in the end, he let her go. She would not be comforted. She had hoped against hope that Baron wouldn't come – that he would just stay away. She had never actually thought she'd have to follow through with her father's plan. Though he painfully watched his daughter flee his presence, he made his way swiftly home, where Ariadra still lingered. She couldn't be allowed to find out what had happened until he was certain Baron had left the forest.
Meanwhile, Aerova had already reached the door to their family home, having gone the other direction at first but unable to handle the gazes of the townspeople, and took the long road home, arriving before her father. Her eyes were blurred with tears and she hesitated outside, fear striking her as she saw a figure within moving in the window against the firelight. What would she say to her? Aerova couldn't face her. She couldn't put on a good face and smile as though nothing had happened.
With a trembling hand Aerova pulled open the door, peering inside. Seeing her sister tending the fire with her back turned, Aerova rushed inside, running for the door to her room, opening it and slamming it behind before Ariadra scarcely had time to turn.
“Aerova?” Ariadra called out in confusion.
Ariadra was stunned. She came to the door and leaned in a bit to hear her sister crying in terrible grief. It brought a tear to her own eyes, not knowing what had happened but knowing whatever it was must have been awful. Ariadra raised her hand up to knock on the door but hesitated. What in the world was happening? Ariadra withdrew and came back toward the fire, lost in thought. Just then, her father came through the front door.
“Father, what's happened? What's the matter with Aerova?”
He looked startled at the question.
“Oh,” he replied, taking off his coat and hanging it on a peg, his back turned to Ariadra. “She's...she's a sensitive girl. You know that. There's a boy involved and she's just found out there's nothing between them.”
Ariadra's eyes narrowed at his statement. Aerova never talked about the boys she'd often had crushes on. And even when she did, she always confided in Ariadra first. For him to know such d
etails so matter of factly was unlikely. And the groans of deep despair weren't those she'd heard Aerova utter in times past. Ariadra glanced to her sister's room, her mind lost in thought.
“Perhaps I should talk with her,” Ariadra decided, raising her hand to knock.
“No,” Tohrnan said, his hands raised and his eyes showing a streak of genuine fear. “Just let her alone for awhile.”
Then his gaze softened and he walked toward Ariadra. But her heart was racing. Whatever he was keeping from her, it had brought despair to her sister. Baron. It must have been. Why else would Aerova flee her presence? What couldn't she bear to tell her?
“Father, what's happened?” Ariadra demanded.
He knew what she was really asking, though he played it off with a stern displeasure that she would disbelieve him.
“What do you mean? I've already told you.”
“It's Baron, isn't it?” she asked, her hands beginning to shake in fear and fury. “Please, if they've done something to him, you must tell me!”
Ariadra's eyes filled with tears. Tohrnan stepped forward to reassure her and placed his hands on her shoulders.
“He hasn't been killed,” he said. “Don't worry.”
“Is he here in Ogrindal?” she asked. “Have they imprisoned him?”
Tohrnan opened his mouth for reply but hesitated, choosing his words carefully.
“I won't lie to you. Baron did come, but he was sent back by the Forest Guard. They haven't harmed him and he went on his way. I made an arrangement with the Forest Guard that they do nothing to harm him.”
Though she was desperate to see him and wanted to fly from her home this very moment to go and find him, Ariadra felt a wave of relief and she nodded and laughed through the tears. She had been terrified for weeks over what would happen to Baron when he came to Ogrindal. To find that he hadn't been harmed and had been sent away a free man...it was good enough for now. If she had to wait here till spring, at least now Baron knew what had kept her and why she hadn't sent word.
The Banished Lands- The Complete Series Page 71
