Kaylia smiled. “Thank you. Your words have lifted my spirits.”
The sounds of songs and laughter drifted in from the camp.
“Speaking of spirits,” Selena remarked, “it seems as if the very first elf-human alliance is going better than expected.”
“So it would seem,” Kaylia agreed. “Though I wonder about the wisdom of wine and song on the eve of battle.”
“I think it may bring the two people closer,” said Selena. “Better to have an aching head and good allies, than suspicions and mistrust.”
Kaylia thought on this for a moment, then rose to her feet. “Perhaps we should join them.” She held out her hand and helped Selena up.
The brisk night was warmed by dozens of fires. The smell of meat and wine filled the air, mingling perfectly with the songs and laughter. By the time the meal was served, Kaylia stood in amazement at the sight of two armies – one elf and the other human – laughing like the Great War had never happened. Her heart filled with hope. And though her thoughts were ever on Gewey, she knew somehow all would be well.
Chapter 15
The orange sky that proceeded the dawn brought with it an eerie glow that washed across the sand. Gewey thought that it was beautiful in a way that only could be appreciated firsthand. Kaylia would be the only one who would ever understand what it looked like through his eyes; he could never find the words. Just then his heart ached from the emptiness he felt without her voice inside him.
“Keep your thoughts here and now,” scolded Aaliyah.
Pali stirred and stretched. “I see neither of you slept.” He reached in his pack, retrieved some jerky and flatbread and shared it with Gewey and Aaliyah.
Something caught Gewey's eye. A figure approached from the direction of the Black Oasis. As it neared he could see that it was a human woman. Her dark blond hair was tangled and matted, and her tattered clothes were covered with dust and grime. She stumbled through the sands as if near exhaustion until she was only a few yards away. Gewey and the others stood, but did not approach her.
“Who are you?” the woman asked, weakly. She didn't meet their eyes, and stared submissively at the ground. Cuts and bruises on her face and arms told of abuse. “Why are you here?”
“A slave,” whispered Pali. “Who is your master?”
“Why are you here?” she repeated.
“You need not fear us,” said Aaliyah. “If you wish, we shall protect you.”
Pali nodded approvingly. “Come forward.”
She didn't move. “Please. Why are you here?”
Gewey could see the fear in the woman's eyes. He took a step forward, but she jumped back, wrapping her arms around herself.
“Slavers do this to them.” Pali's face burned with fury and disgust. “They destroy their will, and torture them until they are nothing resembling what they once were.” He looked hard at Aaliyah. “This is why we protect the humans.” He turned to the woman. “Look at her. She is so afraid, that she will not go with us. She fears what will happen to her if she tries to escape. I've seen this before...far too many times.”
“Is this true?” Aaliyah asked the woman. “Will you not let us help you?”
Tears welled in the woman's eyes “Please. I must obey my master. He wants to know why you're here.” She anxiously gripped the sides of her long tan skirt, and her light blue blouse was caked with thick patches of dried blood and filth.
“Who is your master?” asked Gewey.
The woman shook her head nervously. “Please.”
“Tell your master that our business is our own, and none of his affair,” said Pali.
The woman bowed and scurried away.
“Poor wretch,” Pali muttered, sadly. “It seems we are expected. What do you suggest?”
“We have little choice,” said Aaliyah. “We must continue. They may expect us, but I doubt they are prepared for us.”
They watched the slave return to the Oasis, making a note of where she entered. Once she disappeared, they cautiously followed. Gewey reached out, but his senses were deflected. The look on Aaliyah's face told him she was faring no better.
As they neared, the blackness of the Oasis turned to enormous deep green and thick gray vines. Slick, round leaves, beaded with the dense humidity, hung low, some touching the moss-covered ground. Vines and thorns twisted their way through the branches, wrapping themselves from tree to tree in a never-ending web. Tiny blue flowers dotted the vines and low branches, their colors so deep and rich that one had to strain to notice them as they blended with the leaves. Each flower was cradled by a nest of black berries no larger than the tip of a child’s finger. High above the canopy, flocks of jet black birds, of a species Gewey had never seen, darted and swirled, landing in the tree-tops for a moment, then taking flight again.
Gewey could taste the moisture in the air in stark contrast to the arid desert, and the scent of rotting foliage left a foul taste in his mouth. They checked where they saw the slave enter the wood, but saw no trail or path. Pali slowly scanned the area, then with a satisfied smile, pushed his hand against a patch of brambles. They swung back as if on hinges. Gewey could make out a narrow trail that disappeared into the blackness.
“I will lead,” said Aaliyah.
Gewey could feel her drawing in the flow and reaching out. Her face twisted in frustration and she drew her daggers. The trail was very narrow, making Gewey's sword all but useless, as well as Pali's scimitar. He pulled out his small dagger and followed Aaliyah into the gloom of the Black Oasis.
Though Aaliyah was only a few feet ahead, he could barely see her; even with his heightened senses. Thankfully the trail was, for the time being, straight and even. The ground was covered in thick moss that was nearly as deep as the desert sand. The impenetrable trees and vines compounded the darkness, making it impossible to see more than a few inches on either side. Even the air was thick and humid. Already his clothes were soaked and his hair hung limp. The few sounds to be heard were the drops of dew and creaking of trees and the occasional rustle of some small animal scuttling through the undergrowth.
Aaliyah stopped short, her back stiff and straight. “Something lurks,” she whispered. The sound of her voice only barely reached Gewey.
“What?” asked Gewey.
“I do not know,” she replied. “But I can feel something watching us.”
Gewey looked around. He couldn't imagine from where someone could watch them. The foliage was far too thick for a man or even an elf to pass through. He closed his eyes and breathed deeply. Then, as an itch in the small of his back, just where he couldn't reach, it was there. A presence...watching. He was reminded of when he was in the Spirit Hills with Dina.
“Some say, the Black Oasis is alive,” remarked Pali. “And though I do not possess your skills, I feel something odd, as well.”
They continued for another half mile. Both Gewey and Aaliyah's frustrations grew as neither could sense beyond a few feet, regardless of how much of the flow they allowed to pass through them. Then they smelled it before they saw it....smoke. Foul smoke. Ahead they could see the trees thin and open into a small clearing. The closer they came, the more apparent it was that this was not a natural clearing. No, this had been carved out by hand. The perimeter smoldered and in some spots small fires still burned. The moss on the ground had been trampled flat and at the far end the trail had been sheered wider. Gewey and Pali put away their daggers and drew their swords.
“Whoever was here has clearly fled,” said Pali.
“Yes,” agreed Aaliyah. “But why?”
“I don't know,” said Pali. “But I'd wager we'll find out.”
Gewey listened for signs of people, but as every time he'd tried, his senses reflected back on him. “Well, whoever they are, there's only one way they could have gone.”
“Don't be so sure,” said Pali. “If they can survive this place, they may have learned its secrets.”
Aaliyah nodded in agreement and cautiously moved across the
clearing. The smoke lingered just above the ground, and reeked like rotting earth mingled with decaying flesh. Gewey nearly became ill. As they neared the trail Gewey spotted a dark lump a few yards away. At first he couldn’t tell what it was, but then a cold chill sent him shivering when the blood-spattered face of the slave girl came into view. “Monsters,” he fumed.
“Indeed,” said Pali.
They dragged the body to the clearing and covered her with a blanket.
“We must continue,” said Aaliyah.
Gewey nodded and said a silent prayer for the poor creature.
The ground on the trail ahead had been stripped of all life, leaving only tightly packed black earth. On either side the trees and vines had been hacked away, making it wide enough for them to walk abreast.
Aaliyah slowed their pace to a near crawl, then after about twenty yards stopped altogether. She knelt down and examined a cut vine on the side of the trail. The second she touch it she quickly withdrew her hand and shot to her feet.
“I think I understand,” she whispered. “And if I am correct, the mystery has deepened.”
“Correct about what?” asked Gewey.
“The Black Oasis is alive,” she replied darkly.
“How do you mean?” Gewey bent down and looked at the vine. It pulsed and throbbed like an open wound.
“I mean that the presence we sensed was not those who reside here,” she explained. “It was the Oasis itself.” Her face tensed. “And whatever has cut it away must be strong enough to resist its wrath. This place is powerful...and angry.” She turned to Pali. “You say that none have returned that has ventured here?”
“Not that I know of,” he affirmed. “But then I know of no elf that has dared the Black Oasis. At least none have in my lifetime.”
“If whoever is here is so strong, why did they flee?” asked Gewey.
“Perhaps they didn't,” said Pali.
Aaliyah nodded in agreement. “I think you are right. I think we are being allowed to go deeper inside.”
“Maybe we should go back to the clearing,” Gewey suggested.
“I do not think that would help,” said Aaliyah. “We can only go forward, or leave this place.”
“Assuming we would be allowed to leave,” muttered Pali.
They continued cautiously for another half mile. Ahead a dense haze obscured their vision. Gewey reached out with the flow and tried to move the fog aside, but with no effect. Aaliyah tried as well, but with the same result.
They entered the mist and Gewey immediately felt a presence wrap its spirit around him, pressing in on his mind. He was only just able to keep it out and stumbled, gasping from the effort. Aaliyah placed one hand on his shoulder and wiped the tiny beads of sweat from his forehead.
He held out his hand and steadied himself. “I'm fine.” He looked into Aaliyah's eyes. “Did it try to reach you?”
“No,” she replied softly. “What did it feel like?”
Gewey thought about the first time Lee had entered his mind. “It was as if someone wanted to force its way inside me. I was only barely able to keep it out.”
Aaliyah furled her brow. “It is good you had the strength. Though it could be useful to know what is out there.”
“Should I allow it in?” asked Gewey. The idea worried him.
“No,” she replied. “The risk is too great. But let me know if it happens again.”
The fog only allowed them to see a couple of feet ahead, and was several degrees colder. After a few hundred yards, it began to thin, to Gewey's great relief, though the chill remained even when the air was clear. The light that crept in from the widening of the trail, allowed Gewey to see the true color of the Oasis. In contrast to the dark green of the exterior, the leaves were a rich vibrant mixture of green, pale blue, and delicate lines of bright yellow. The trunks were smooth and without blemish, as if polished by skilled hands. Even the vines and brambles were less sinister in appearance, flowing in an elegant weave of life and symmetry.
One-hundred yards ahead, they saw a narrow black stone archway the height of two men. Symbols of the nine Gods had been carved across the face and inlaid with pure gold. Just beyond the archway, the ground had been paved with smooth red marble, veined in green and blue, and polished to a mirror shine. The moment they passed beneath the arch, the forest on either side melted away like wax in a fire. In its place was a series of white marble columns the same height as the archway, connected by small arches of blood-red volcanic glass. To the left and right of the columns, the ground became a meadow of soft turf scattered with tiny yellow and purple flowers. It extended for one-hundred feet then was reclaimed by the dense trees and vines. The sun beamed down illuminating the glass arches, causing tiny rays of red light to shoot out in every direction. At the end of the path stood a forty-foot pyramid of polished bronze. The sides were smooth, and the top was crowned with a blue crystal. At its base, a shallow arched corridor of black marble, led to a silver door with the nine Gods were etched in a circle at its center.
“What is this place?” gasped Pali.
“It is a temple built to house the tools of the Gods,” explained Aaliyah. “I have read of its existence, but had never thought I would see it for myself.”
Gewey shifted uneasily. “We still haven't seen whoever is in here, and it looks as if this is as far as we can go. So where are they?”
“Perhaps they await us beyond the door,” suggested Pali.
“I suppose there's only one thing to do then,” said Gewey. He strode down the path until he stood in front of the door, grabbed the small silver knob and turned. Aaliyah and Pali stood, weapons drawn, just behind him.
Gewey pushed the door open without a sound. Just inside a narrow passage led to a stone staircase leading down into the earth. The walls were covered with bronze plates that gave off a faint light similar to the glowing globes of the elves. As Gewey stepped inside, the glow became brighter, and extended down the walls of the staircase. They descended for about thirty feet to another long hall that ended with a dull gray stone wall.
“A dead end?” asked Pali.
Aaliyah examined it carefully. The stone was rough and uneven, in stark contrast to everything else, and tiny quartz crystals were embedded throughout. She reached out and gently ran her index finger over the stone, then pressed her palm flat against it. She stood there silent and still for a full minute.
“There must be another way,” said Gewey.
“Did you see one?” asked Aaliyah, irritably.
Gewey reached over her shoulder and touched the wall. There was a bright flash of white light. When it was gone, so was the wall. In its place was another silver door. They all stood in amazement.
Aaliyah reached for the door, but Gewey grabbed her wrist. “Don't.”
“What is it?” she asked.
Gewey put his back to the door. “I don't know how, but I know it is meant for me.” He placed his hand on the door, feeling the cold metal. He could feel the pulse of the flow everywhere, calling to him. “Don't you feel it?”
Aaliyah touch his shoulder and let her spirit flow toward his. She could feel the power calling to Gewey. But it was different. It was not the abstract raw power she molded to her will. This had form and...consciousness. She gasped and snatched back her hand. “It knows you.”
“Yes,” Gewey affirmed. “I don't know how, but it does. I can almost hear its thoughts.”
“Hear whose thoughts?” asked Pali.
“The temple,” Gewey replied. “It speaks to me. From here I must go alone. It won't allow you to enter.”
Aaliyah took Gewey's hand. “Are you certain?”
Gewey smiled and nodded. “Yes. Don't worry. I don't sense the anger of the Oasis. But I do know that I must go on alone.”
Aaliyah squeezed his hand and stepped back. “We will await you here.”
Gewey turned and placed his hand on the doorknob. The second his flesh touched it, darkness surrounded him and there was a great
rumble as if the very earth was being shattered all around him. Aaliyah, Pali, and the hallway vanished. For a moment, he was struck by fear and panic, as the rumble became a roar, and a powerful wind rose up and swirled in a tempest lifting him skyward. He let out a scream as he struggled against the force. Then as quickly as it came, it disappeared. He felt himself begin to fall. Unable to see through the darkness below, he braced himself for impact, but it didn't come. Instead, he felt his feet land gently on soft ground. Gewey knelt down, expecting grass, but was shocked to find what felt like polished marble. He pressed down with his finger. It gave way, sinking in, then reforming once he withdrew.
“This can't be real,” he said. His words echoed repeatedly, then slowly faded. “Am I alone?”
As if in response, a small ball of light, appeared just in front of him. It grew brighter and brighter, until he was forced to shield his eyes. Then it dimmed, and there stood the figure of a man. He was as tall as Gewey, and just as broad. His raven hair fell carelessly, in loose curls just above his shoulders. He was dressed in a long, silver robe, open in the front, revealing a loose-fitting white shirt, and trousers. His features were sharp and angular, with a perfect symmetry that was beautiful to behold. His flawless ivory skin bore no sign of age or blemishes, and glowed with a soft radiance. He smiled as he met Gewey's eyes.
“I knew you would come,” he said. His voice was deep and soothing.
“Who-who are you?” Gewey stammered.
“You know me as Gerath,” he replied.
“God of the Earth,” Gewey whispered.
“Yes,” he replied. “And no.”
Gerath stretched out his arms. “What you see before you is merely an image. A piece of my essence left behind in this world. Left behind for you.”
Gewey eyed him carefully. “Are you my father?”
The Godling Chronicles (Shadow of the Gods, Book #3) Page 16
