"It's warm, and you'll have plenty of water," Alrion said.
"You did win, fair and square," Certan said. However, the way he emphasised the words fair and square suggested that he wasn't entirely convinced.
"You made the rules, not us," Lara said.
"Yes, I did. But I didn't say you could break them!"
"Don't be a sore loser," Lara said.
"Ho hum," Certan said, staring off into space. Lara looked up and they were still only halfway through the entertainment district.
"This is going to take a while," she said.
"I hope he actually has some useful information for us to make this whole effort worthwhile," Alrion said.
Lara could see from his face how uncomfortable he was. She almost felt bad for not helping to hold Certan's weight. But Alrion had magic, he could handle it.
They received more strange and judgemental looks in the market district.
"I feel like everyone is watching us, but at the same time isn't looking," Alrion said.
"Yeah, they are noticing us but are too polite to stare. I don't think this is a particularly new sight at all. So, they see us, try not to look then dismiss us."
"If that's the case, we should carry drunk people around more often," Alrion said.
Lara laughed a little. "It's a bit of a drag though," she said and Alrion joined her in laughing. Certan started laughing too, which was infectious.
"Does he even know why we are laughing?" Alrion said.
"I don't think he even cares," Lara said.
They continued this strange routine, with Certan becoming less and less coherent and Alrion looking more and more strained. But they finally made their way through to the working district and the entrance to the workshop where Vincent was toiling away.
"Hello there, I see you have a guest," Vincent said.
"They beat me fair and square," Certan said, piping up out of nowhere. Again, he emphasised the words fair and square.
"Good to see you are so gracious in defeat. Let's get him back to my quarters. I'll take over here," Vincent said, walking over and talking the load off Lara. Alrion shifted his stance and looked relieved.
"This is definitely the monk we need to talk to," Alrion said.
"He's not like any monk I've ever met," Vincent said.
"Most monks would not accompany you in this fashion," Certan said.
"Why is that?" Alrion said.
"They would have dismissed your pathetic attempts at cheating and stormed off. But me, I'm much more generous." Certan gestured with his arms wide, no doubt trying to show the extent of his generosity.
"I think most monks wouldn't engage in drinking contests. Not that I hold that against you," Lara said.
"You got me!" Certan said, mumbling the words. Vincent laughed, shaking his head. They hauled the man the rest of the way in silence.
"This is it," Vincent said.
They were standing in front of a small square building. It was the same style as the rest, rough but well cut stone, with a range of metal adornments on the doors, windows, and trims.
"This is your place?" Lara said.
"It's not mine exactly, but working blacksmiths that are qualified are given quarters to inhabit. These are for our use," Vincent said.
Lara opened the door, and Vincent and Alrion shuffled inside, trying not to knock Certan against any walls or doorways. The interior was sparsely decorated, but there was an old couch in a living room so they carefully set Certan down there.
"I appreciate the assistance," Certan said, in a drunken drawl.
"Let me whip up something to help," Vincent said, disappearing into another room.
"I don't blame you for what you did. Clearly this man here cannot match me in drinking. And I went along with it, because that was some good stuff. Thanks for playing along," Certan said slowly and carefully. Lara was about to reply when he slid to the side and started snoring.
"Well I guess you weren't fast enough with your switching," Alrion said.
"I guess not. But you know, I think the fact that he noticed even after drinking that much means that he's very skilled. Under that strange behaviour and clothing, he's the real deal," Lara said.
"I hope so, I need a good lead. I'd prefer it if my dream had contained some sort of map and directions, but it did not. I've not had any noteworthy dreams since."
"He's asleep already? Let him doze for a while. We can get more out of him when he sobers up," Vincent was holding a glass with a dark liquid in it.
"What's that?" Alrion asked.
"A special concoction to help sober him up and wake him up. But I'll save it for the morning. Let's all get some rest."
"Sounds good to me," Alrion said.
Vincent showed them to the additional areas he had prepared, with a separate mattress to sleep on. Lara watched Alrion fall asleep almost instantly, and she made herself comfortable.
Lara had the strange feeling that she was being watched, and she sat up instantly. It was the break of dawn, with a dim light filtering into the room. She could see a shape sitting in front of her, legs crossed. As her eyes adjusted she could see it was Certan, sipping the drink that Vincent had prepared the night before.
"This is good stuff, I'll have to get the recipe. As for last night, I must applaud your ingenuity and quick reflexes. You would have completely fooled anyone else." Certan held up his glass in a mock toast.
"Thanks for letting me get away with it."
"Are you ready for a story?" Certan said. There was a fire and intensity to his eyes that Lara had not noticed before.
"Glad to finally meet you. I think we're all ready for that story, and it better be a good one."
5
The Fallen Monk
Alrion awoke to the sound of voices. He rose quickly and investigated. Lara and Certan were sitting opposite each other.
"I see you are awake and enjoying my father's vile drink. Story time?" he asked.
"Yes," Certan said before taking another sip.
"I'll go get my father," Alrion wandered through the small dwelling into the main bedroom. His father was fast asleep. Alrion shook him gently.
"Yes?" Vincent said, drawing the word out.
"He's awake and sober. I figured you would want to hear what he has to say."
"Of course," Vincent said, scrambling out of bed.
"Plus, you'll be pleased to know that he likes your strange drink."
"He likes it? Everyone hates it. That's half the point of it," Vincent said.
Alrion left his father to wake himself up and returned to Certan. Lara and Certan had rearranged their seating to accommodate more people comfortably. "My father will be here in a moment, but you can begin. So, your name is Certan. What else should we know?"
"Yes, that is my name. As you guessed I was part of a highly secretive and skilled order of monks. They call themselves the Unbroken Wall."
"I've never heard of them," Vincent said as he entered the room. He found a few pillows to sit down on, and made himself comfortable.
"That's the idea. They are based out of a temple hidden in the middle of the desert. Hard to find, and away from any trade routes. You have to know the way there or else you'll die wandering."
"Lucky we have you then," Lara said.
"Do not get ahead of yourself, let me continue. This order of monks is incredibly old, and there are four masters at any one time. The eldest of the masters is hundreds of years old," Certan said.
"How is that possible?" Alrion said.
"By the nature of their study and skill. Their speciality is the study and application of the will. With it, many things can be altered, many so-called rules broken. They are able to push the boundaries of time and space, and the limits of the human body."
"As strange as that sounds, it is starting to make sense to me," Alrion said.
"I've never heard someone respond like that, very interesting." Certan tilted his head slightly and studied Alrion as if he was a puzzl
e to solve.
"What's an example of what they can do?" Lara said.
"They can break steel or stone with any part of their body. They can avoid attacks that no other can even detect. They can move with speed and strength that is impossible. They can even move things with their mind," Certan said.
"Sign me up," Lara said.
"They do take women, but it requires dedication and years of training. I doubt you have the determination to do it," Certan said.
"I liked him more when he was drunk," Lara said.
"They sound like a formidable force, and well-trained and disciplined. What happened to you?" Vincent said. Certan visibly stiffened, taken aback by the comment.
"I don't mean to offend, I'm sorry," Vincent said quickly.
"No, I am not offended by your question, it is quite valid. I was thinking on my failure, and my situation. I will explain.” Certan stood up and paced around the room a little, looking out into the distance. Then he resumed his seated position. "Unlike many of the monks, I was not inducted as a child. I was a teenager, living out on the fringes of the desert. It was a small town, kept alive by the travellers who needed to cross the desert and could afford to pay for our overpriced supplies. We were not greedy, but the number of travellers was so low, we had to extract as much as we could from them to survive."
"You learned to live with very little?" Vincent said.
"Yes, it was a simple life. Looking back, you don't realise how special it is. Happiness without wealth feels hard at the time, but is infinitely easier. There is a lightness to it. As long as you can find a way to keep going, there are no particularly hard burdens. Your life and daily responsibilities consume your mind, keeping you safe."
"Sounds like good preparation for joining an order of monks," Alrion said.
"It was, in a fashion. But as a teenager, I acted as most do. I rebelled against the conditions we lived in. I found some like-minded friends and we started to roam further and further from our home. We found new people to trade with, stumbled across things left by desperate travellers and felt like we had additional freedom and wealth. We shared only amongst ourselves and became wealthy, in comparison to those around us."
"So, what happened?" Lara said.
"We became greedy. We heard that a caravan had lost a wheel and a huge amount of valuables were abandoned in the desert. We were the only ones with the strength, knowledge, and resources to salvage it. Even though it was further than we had ever roamed before, we didn't even think twice. The lure of the prize was too great."
"What was so alluring about it?"
"It would have been enough for us to leave and build a life somewhere else. When you are young, the urge to wander is so strong. You will do anything to follow it. But as you can guess, things did not go so well. We found the caravan. Of course, it was further than we had planned for, and laden with even more goods that we expected. We argued about what to do. One of us wanted to drag it closer, and bring about another group to collect it all. One wanted to try to fix the caravan and ride it home. I wanted us to take a few valuables and go home, just enough to get us on our way."
"Who won?" Vincent said.
"Not me. My friends decided to take our supplies, and set off to find a way to fix the caravan. My theory is that they thought I would wait until they returned and be forced to help them. But I was impatient and took off in another direction, hoping to go home. Unfortunately, it was the wrong direction and I got lost in the middle of the desert. Alone, hungry and parched. I collapsed, and considered myself done for."
"How did you get out of that?" Alrion said, captivated by the story. He needed to hear more.
"One of the monks found me. They took me in, and offered me a chance to join them. I had nothing more to do, my friends had abandoned me and it was a chance to join something incredible. I really enjoyed my time there." Certan's tone of voice changed and he started to look downwards.
"But something happened?" Vincent said.
"Yes, it was one of the final trials. They have a room there, it is called the Room of Desire. And it is filled with all the things that a young man desires, but does not need. Gold, wine, beer, treasures, you name it. As part of the trial they take you in there, and show you that it exists. They make you sample the wine, select a piece of gold and a treasure. Then they lead you out, not locking the door or saying anything else."
"Did you know it was a trial?" Alrion said.
"They didn't explain it as such, but I suspected something was up. However, once that wine passed my lips, I was obsessed. I couldn't stop thinking about it. The thoughts drove me mad. So, one night, I snuck back into the room and helped myself. The flood gates were open, and I didn't care who knew." Certan closed his eyes, a pained look crossing his features. It looked like he was reliving the moment.
"Presumably you were caught?" Lara said.
"Yes, immediately. It's like they knew. They weren't mean about it, they just said that everyone responds differently to the trial, and that I could not stay. I packed my things and left. Luckily, I knew how to navigate the desert by that point, so I could safely rejoin society."
"What did you do?" Alrion said.
"I wandered from here to there. I took odd jobs as a mercenary, labourer, whatever was available. When I wasn't working, I availed myself of local entertainments. Establishments like the one where you found me. It's a strange spiral down that I found myself in. I started to avoid the paying jobs, to deny myself access to the coin that would immediately go back into more drinks. But that just led to other behaviour, like trading away the scarf which was my last tie to the monks."
"Are you happy with your current lifestyle?" Vincent said.
"No, I'm not. But I don't see a way out. I am trapped in a downwards spiral that only ends in one way." Certan didn't shy away from it.
"Help us. This is your chance to turn things around. Please, I need to ask you a very important question," Alrion said.
Certan did not respond. After a long pause, he opened his eyes. "I don't think I have another chance, but I am a man of my word and will help you. What do you need to know?"
"I had a dream, and in it I saw four monks, dressed in garments with the same symbol that was on your scarf. They were sitting outside a doorway, to a pure white room. I need to go there, and undertake whatever trial that is. Does that make any sense?" Alrion said. Certan closed his eyes again. He looked asleep. After a few minutes, he opened his eyes once more and addressed Alrion.
"I know of what you speak. I have meditated to recall as much detail as possible. The room you speak of is called the Vault of Silence. It is the final trial a monk undergoes. Very few make it that far, and very few succeed. Yet we are all told about it, early on in our training. I am not sure why, but that's no matter now. It is all about the mastery of the will. If you can pass that trial, you have achieved the pinnacle of monkhood," Certan said.
"I have to pass that trial. What else can you tell me about it?"
"Unfortunately, I don't know the specific details. I just know that the four elder monks administer the test. It requires you to enter the room. I've only heard of one monk taking the test in all the time I have been there."
"What happened?" Lara said.
"We never saw him again. I guess he failed? I can't say for sure."
"That's reassuring," Alrion said.
"I am just telling you what I know. Without being aware of your background, I think you will find it very challenging. You do not have the proper training to succeed." Certan's face was emotionless.
Alrion could tell the monk was not trying to belittle him. Even still, he couldn't accept that statement. "I have to pass, so I will find a way," Alrion said.
"I can see the fire within your eyes. You have the passion, and the embers of a strong will. Perhaps that will be enough.” Certan stood up and paced around the room. "I will draw you a map, so you can find your way through the desert. Then our business is concluded."
"That w
ould be very helpful," Vincent said.
"Why not come with us? You can show us the way yourself, and you can resume your training," Alrion said.
"No, I cannot go back. It's not possible."
"Did they even say that? Or are you just being stubborn and embarrassed?" Alrion said. Certan stopped his pacing. Alrion could see that he was getting through to the monk.
"I am not sure. I will think on it. That is the best answer I can give you right now," he said.
"Thanks," Alrion said. It was a start, he could work on it. After hearing the story, he couldn't imagine undertaking the journey without Certan.
"You know, it'll be fun. We can all go, it will be an adventure," Lara said.
"Not on my watch," a voice said from the doorway. They all turned to look at their visitor. It was a woman dressed in leather travelling clothes, with tall boots and a short jacket thrown over her shoulders.
"Celes?" Vincent said, shock in his voice.
"You thought I would just wait at home after hearing what you were up to? Lucky I did turn up. You look like you are about to let my son run off with this young delinquent and this fallen monk," Celes said. Certan looked away, embarrassment on his face.
"Delinquent? I am no such thing," Lara said. Alrion could see her face flare up in anger.
"Mum, what is going on?" Alrion had never seen this side of her. She was always strong and loving and fair. But here she seemed different. He had never seen her dressed like this before. There was now an edge to her strength, and a confidence in her stance that suggested a whole other part to her story that he never knew about. He didn't know whether to be relieved or scared.
6
An unexpected reunion
Celes strode around the room, looking them all up and down.
"I see no need to change my initial assessment. Are things so dire?"
"Honey, calm down. There's a lot to discuss," Vincent said.
"You bet there is. You told me you were taking him to study at the Academy. Then I get a letter saying that you're on this huge quest and you'll write again from Brangtur? Not good enough."
Vault of Silence (The Hidden Wizard Book 2) Page 4
