Ascending the remaining mountainside consumed most of the following day. That afternoon, they exited the crevasse that linked the Mountain King Valley to southern Lakewood Valley. It was a welcoming sight. The wintry storm had not passed over the crest of the mountain range as the snow and wind was captured within the northern valley. South, the sun was shining among the scattered rain clouds onto green slopes and land beyond.
The entire southern lands could be seen for hundreds of miles in a panoramic view that took the Num’s breath away. Never had they assumed the world was so vast.
Thick rich forests and distant mountains covered the east while scattered lakes and hilly woodlands covered the land just southeast of the mountain pass. The southwest had more mountains as well, but with less vegetation on the upper heights which abruptly sprung up from the low flat lands. Soft wisps of smoke rose from two distant twin mountain peaks.
To the south and southwest was a great lake that had no end in sight. In the far distance, perhaps on an island, stood a tall slender line. Its height was even with their own.
“What is that?” Thorik asked.
Ambrosius looked over at the vertical black line in the landscape. “Lu’Tythis.”
“What is it?”
“It is a tower.”
“It can’t be. The top is as tall as a mountain.” He was spellbound at the possibility.
Ambrosius agreed. “That’s a fair estimate. The large crystal in its pointed top sits several thousand feet high. You will see the crystal’s rhythmic light display at night, high in the sky. It’s very soothing.”
Turning his attention away, Ambrosius focused on the southern valley. “Before us lies the Lakewood Forest. That thin wavy line running from east to west is the Cucurrian River.” He glanced over at Thorik who was fixated on the tower. “Thorik, keep focused.” Ambrosius raised his voice. “The river,” he repeated and pointed back in its location.
Thorik shook it off and searched for a moment before seeing the thin line that weaved between lakes. “Yes, I see it.”
“Good. Along that river is the Dovenar Wall that borders the entire Dovenar Kingdom. This section protects the province of Woodlen. We will travel down to the entrance at the city of Pyrth. You will go into Pyrth to determine if it is safe for my arrival. You’ll have to start conversations and overhear others. Perhaps you can find out something from the local pub or market place.”
Grewen added, “Also keep your ears open for someone who goes by the name of the Terra King, I would very much like to know where and when he will be speaking to the people.”
“Exactly what kind of conversations are we listening for?” Thorik found himself staring again at the black vertical line of Lu’Tythis Tower in the background.
“You’re looking for information about the murder of the Grand Council. Grewen has heard that I may be a suspect, so we need to know how prevalent that rumor is, in order to determine our next step. Your best source of information will be the Gentry, but I do not think they will talk to you, so you will need to talk to the Plebeians for information.”
“Gentry? Plebeian?” Thorik was confused.
“Simply put, Gentry have the power and Plebeians do not,” Ambrosius summarized.
“How will I tell them apart?”
“If not by the attitude, look at the clothing and jewelry,” Ambrosius mused. “You also need to stay clear of the Alchemists. They have great powers and will read you like an open scroll.”
“Alchemists?” Thorik asked.
“Yes, you know. Wizards, mages, witches, sorcerers and the like. They wield powers that are magic in nature.”
“Is that what you are?” Thorik asked.
Filling his mouth with a handful of local weeds, Grewen smirked and eyebrows rose as he waited for Ambrosius’ response.
Ambrosius was slightly shocked at the question but attempted to downplay it. “No, I am an E’rudite,” he said proudly and humbly.
“What’s the difference?”
“We are students of true nature, not just of what you see, hear and feel, but of the fundamental fabric of everything around us. Over time, this allows us to be closer to the very structure and make up of all life. One result is we can, if needed, manipulate many of the threads of this fabric, such as energy, gravity, time, space, and the elements. It is a studied art that requires many years of discipline and guidance to be responsible for such great knowledge. It can take a lifetime to master just a single natural art. To be an E’rudite, one must understand the forces of nature to such great degree that those forces become an extension of oneself.”
Ambrosius continued. “Alchemists, on the other hand, have a spiritual belief that guides them to natural energies which they harness. They use and mix these energies together to create various reactions much like a recipe to make a cake. They do not understand why it rises and tastes the way it does, only that it will when ingredients are mixed in the correct manner. This, they call ‘magic’.”
“Often these ‘magic’ recipes are complex and sensitive to variation. They struggle to control these reactions. So, the Alchemists often enchant objects for later use. Enchanted objects can then be activated in a number of different ways depending on the substance and enchanter. They have verbal or physical commands such as breaking the object or getting it wet. This allows others who have even less understanding of these forces to be able to use them.” Ambrosius sighed. “Ignorance and power are dangerous bed-fellows.”
Thorik scratched behind his ear in thought. “So it’s kind of the same but just different ways to get there?”
“Close enough.”
“So why don’t you like the Alchemists?” Thorik injected.
“It’s not that I don’t like them. I simply find their ways to be very hazardous. They do not understand it for what it really is and they don’t have the discipline to use it correctly and responsibly, causing them to be reckless.”
“They’re all like that?” Thorik questioned.
“Most of them. Magic is dangerous; you would be well advised to stay clear of it.”
“So, are E’rudites more powerful than Alchemists?”
“Not always. It isn’t that simple.” Ambrosius was tired of the line of questions and ready to move down the mountainside once Draq gave the signal from the air.
“Did the E’rudites create Lu’Tythis?”
“Enough questions for now, my curious friend.” Ambrosius could see Thorik was again staring at the tower. “Thorik! There are a lot of things in this world that will be new to you. If you stop to dwell on them all, we will never get anywhere. You must learn to focus on your mission.”
Thorik apologized, “Sorry, you’re right. We will pass the Woodlen gates and inquire around a bit in the city of Pyrth. If your name is still in good standing, we will find out. We’ll return with our findings, make our plans, and then determine who destroyed the Mountain King statue.”
“Excellent.” Ambrosius looked up into the sky. A solid glare of reflected sun interrupted the shimmering from his Draq’s scales. “Draq has given us the all clear. It’s time to travel down into Lakewood Forest.”
“Then let’s be on our way,” Gluic said, standing next to him, ready to head down into the valley. She had already donned a headdress of local weeds as she began stuffing a feather in one of the holes in Ambrosius’ leather vest.
The days travel down the mountain was much easier than any other day during the trip. A fire-free camp was established that evening to prevent any potential assassins from locating them. It was a cool night for sleeping without a campfire, but they would enjoy it much more than sleeping in the frozen cave on the other side of the mountain.
“Thorik.” Emilen gazed up into the southern night’s sky.
He turned from his camp duties to follow her line of sight. Above the trees, semitransparent ribbons of green, blue and red waved in the sky like flags in the wind. These misty banners flapped in the windless breeze as they decorated the night’s black
pallet.
Thorik walked up behind Emilen and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her in tight. “Beautiful. This must be the light display from Lu’Tythis Tower.” He recalled his conversation with Ambrosius.
They stood, holding each other, watching the event for what seemed like hours before retiring for the night. Upon waking, the colored waves had been banished by the rays of the morning sun.
There wasn’t much of a trail as they traveled down the foothills into heavier woodlands. A week or more had passed before they reached the scattered lakes. By doing so they lost sight of Draq and assumed all was well until he came swooping in to alert them of a small army of enemy Warriors.
“How many?” Ambrosius asked.
“A few hundred with spears and launchers,” Draq replied.
“What kind of close range weapons are they traveling with?”
“Nothing special, just standard hand to hand combat items.”
“No rams or bores?” Ambrosius questioned.
“No.”
“Odd, why would they attack the wall without any weapons to get inside it?” Ambrosius considered the options. “There must be another target for their attack. Where are they located?”
“They are camped in a river basin downstream, out of your current path. You should be able to pass through without having any confrontation with them,” the dragon said.
“That doesn’t sound like the Draq I know.” Ambrosius grinned at the thought. “Lead the way. I want to see what they’re up to. It may be a small clue to a larger plan.”
The party continued in the direction led by Draq while Brimmelle complained that he thought this was a bad idea. With his protest falling on deaf ears, they eventually reached a rim looking down into a river basin filled with creatures.
The Nums gasped at the many Del’Unday species that existed and how fierce most of them looked. When asked, Grewen was indulgent enough to answer the Num’s questions about the various species.
A few tall red skinned and eyed Blothruds walked along barking orders at the rest of them. Hairless skin stretched over their long snouts, exposing lower and upper teeth. Armed with spiked knuckles and elbows that naturally grew out from their skin, they only carried side sabers on their belt for battle. Jagged angled blades grew out of their back spine, undoubtedly for rear attacks. Two large hairy wolf-like legs supported razor-sharp claws and thick pointy spikes. Shoulders back and standing tall, it was easy to see that they were in charge of this battle campaign.
Hunched over, the two-legged Krupe appeared to be the common military guard and soldier. They wore sharply cut dark metal armor and were equipped with various weapons. Fully covered with metal, it was impossible to see the color of their skin or the shape of their face. Only glimpses of eyes could be seen from within the slots of the helmets. Krupes carried out the orders of the Blothruds without question and kept the site in order. In fact they never spoke. They were silent as they went about their chores. The unknown spooked the Nums.
Several Brandercats wandered the camp on all fours in search of their next meal. When standing on their back legs, these lizard-skinned cats were as tall as the Krupes. Crouching down and sitting quietly, they waited for opportunities to eat. While idle, their scales would quickly change colors to match their surroundings causing them to vanish from sight.
During a delivery of raw Fesh’Unday meat, a Brandercat leaped from its hiding place and snatched a hundred pounds of the uncooked food with its dislocating jaw and multiple layers of teeth. In the few seconds that it took for a Krupe to catch up to the Brandercat, over half of the meal was consumed. The cat laughed in a human tone about the event. Running for cover after being poked sharply with the Krupe’s spear, it swore bitterly back at it.
It took the Nums by surprise to see an animal speak.
Avanda pointed at a dragon, less than half the size of Draq, with dark coal colored scales. “That one looks like Draq, but I can’t find any that look like you,” she said to Grewen.
It was Ambrosius’ turn to widen his eyes and raise his eyebrows as he waited for Grewen to respond to Avanda’s question.
“That’s because I am an Ov’Unday, not a Del’Unday.”
“What’s the difference?” she replied.
“Delz are bred for war and conquest. We on the other hand are at peace with nature and accept what we have.” Grewen taught his class of one.
Brimmelle entered with an assumption, “So, Ov’Unday are good and Del’Unday are evil?”
“No, life is not that black and white,” Grewen explained. “They justify their actions with their beliefs, teachings, and traditions. What seems evil to us is not an act of evil in their minds. Also remember, history is written by those who are victorious. When the Delz conquer lands they record themselves as good and the destroyed civilization as evil. Most aggressors do the same.”
Brimmelle voiced his thoughts, “I don’t trust any of them. Filthy Altereds are all alike.”
Grewen flinched at the term. “We prefer to be called Unday. Altered Creatures are things of the past. Slaves of a race long gone.”
Thorik entered to the conversation with Grewen. “Draq is a Del’Unday but you get along with him.”
“Rare as it is, sometimes Del’Unday and Ov’Unday can coexist. The Delz also have been known to take Fesh’Unday as pets and laborers, something we Ov’Undays typically do not do.”
Seeing Avanda’s questioning face, Grewen decided to answer it before it was spoken. “Fesh’Unday are the wild creatures such as wolves, grazers, thrashers, bushdogs, and Faralopes.”
“Quiet,” Ambrosius ordered. Several of the Del’Unday infantry marched toward their position and fortunately they marched by without issue. After veering off, they were soon out of sight.
Looking out at the camp, it seemed odd that they were not preparing for battle.
Ambrosius looked at the water system being built along the small river. “They plan to stay for a while. They’re spending a lot of time making shelters instead of sharpening their blades.”
“Perhaps they are training,” Grewen suggested.
“Or they are waiting for more reinforcements to arrive.” It just didn’t look right to Ambrosius.
“Why attack now?” Grewen asked.
“Maybe they have received word that the Council has been destroyed. They lost some of their key commanders too and could be seeking retribution. Also, they know there is no longer any power to hold them responsible for such an attack on Woodlen.”
Ambrosius’ lips tightened as he thought about his prior statement. “But how would news get all the way to Ergrauth or Corrock in time to prepare an army and have it travel this far within a cycle? I think whomever was feeding the information you intercepted has also informing Ergrauth. Who else has received this information before the incident even occurred? This net of deception is far wider than I had imagined. We must proceed even more cautiously.”
“I say we leave before we get caught.” Brimmelle’s visions of the creatures were making him uncomfortable.
Ambrosius nodded. “I agree, we must depart before dark. There is no more to learn here without putting ourselves at risk.”
With that, they cautiously left the Del’Unday area and were back on their way to Woodlen.
After traveling several more days, they camped overnight in a small clearing encircled by thick trees and brush to hide their location. A small stream ran through the camp, providing fresh water and a pleasant sound for sleeping. The plan was set for the Nums to head south to Woodlen after breakfast.
Chapter 21
Woodlen Province
Fate of Thorik Page 26
