by J P Nelson
Albri walks over and addresses the man, a man in gray clothing and hooded cloak, his full beard being the most visible feature and hiding his face, “Well, well, Teaberry … it appears you made it. Is Banea to join, or do you know?” Albri puts his arm over the shoulder of the newly arrived friend and walks to a cask of wine as N’Ugarr comes over and asks, “Come, Master Jann Raul, have you ever played the dice?”
In time, the tenth friend, a person who appears to be a young girl of Jann Raul’s own age enters the mix to the pleasure of everyone, the ensemble is now whole if only for one last time.
Jann Raul falls asleep before the night is complete, but when he awakens it is to full rest, the most rested he has felt in a long time. There is a distant memory of the man Logan having touched him on the head; the famous Logan, whom he has been told had just been chosen as one of the Three High Priests of Eayah, and was to be ordained as such in Xenias six weeks hence. Immediately after Logan had touched him, warmth ran through Jann Raul’s body, even his ankle which had been sore after the chase, now felt better.
Jann Raul thought he heard Logan tell Albri, “The boy is well and of remarkable constitution, but was on verge of the Bochima Sickness. You have done well, my brother, he would most surely have been gone by year’s end.”
Sitting up from his sleeping pallet, Jann Raul’s first thought is of Bochima. That was a sickness which caused the body to rot, and it was always fatal. He had seen a man with it just weeks before. Had Logan, the priest, had he healed him? What manner of men and women had he stumbled upon?
Walking onto the patio he observes Albri and Logan performing some kind of slow moving exercise …
Albri pauses and greets, “Good morning Jann Raul … would you like a first lesson in Tai’Jhi?”
And so it began, every morning, barring dire circumstance, the practice of Tai’Jhi became an integral part of Jann Raul’s life. Not only the slow flowing movements of the dance-like art, but the myriad applications in hand-to-hand combat.
Albri and Jann Raul became near to inseparable in the time to come. The days following the feast were invested in preparations for a trek to Xenias with Logan. Jann Raul had heard many stories of Logan, but now he was seeing the man, the legend in person and getting to know him as a friend.
The priest had himself been an orphan, surviving in the outlying villages of Shudoquar by stealing food and picking pockets when another legend, the famous-infamous thief, Syruda, caught the waif trying to pick his own pocket. Syruda took him under wing, and for years the two were rumored to have been involved in all manner of adventures and escapades. It was said they had even been part of a secret order who called themselves the Ko’Riugho Jynn, but that had been long ago.
Logan was said to have been a master rogue at the age of nineteen, but when his powers and mystical attunement to the world began to manifest in him, he was led to believe it was Eayah making himself known to the young man. Logan chose to leave the rogue lifestyle, to Syruda’s displeasure it is said, to join the Eayahnite clergy as a field cleric. A field cleric typically being a lay-priest of sorts who travels abroad teaching doctrines of Eayah.
Only Logan did more, much more. He manifested his ability to heal, to tend and defend what was often called the lower caste of people … something quite different from other Eayahn Clerics, who seemed to be more interested in interweaving into local politics.
No less than seventy-one merchants with trade goods and wagons or carts appealed for travel with the famous cleric. Who would not wish to travel with a man said to be able to control undead, heal wounds and of late kill a powerful vampire?
To follow the Pihpikow Road to the Shudoquar Plains, whether to continue west to the city of Bahquanjiu, north to the lands of Nahjiua, or south to Xenias and beyond, meant traversing the Devil’s Kitchen. Some have said passing the Fragrances of Forosai was not unlike receiving last rites before death and burial. The journey was not always met with death, but of all highways and main roads throughout Aeshea it was the most treacherous.
The Devil’s Kitchen is actually a low-lying depression midway of the Sahrjiun Mountains. Spanning an area about thirty miles north to south and eighty-five miles east to west, the region is made up of ravines, gorges, tar pits, pools of bubbling acid, springs of cool water, oasis’s of evergreens, mesas with no visible way to reach the top, and the Devil’s Crown in the centre.
Clearly visible from the Pihpikow Road, the Crown is a rock formation which gives the appearance of a huge crown on a head of a behemoth buried beneath the ground, which is exactly what most people believe.
What appears to be five fingers of polished white marble with veins of ebony, rise upward to varying heights of one to two hundred feet and form a near perfect circle around an area two hundred sixty feet in diameter. Some argue a sixth finger of stone existed at center and at some time was broken and either carried off or disappeared.
In modern times, however, at almost perfect center is an uneven platform thirteen feet in diameter. The Pihpikow Road lies one thousand rods to the south of the Crown and forty feet higher in elevation from its base.
The Crown is usually avoided and some say just looking at it gives one a sensation of foreboding doom.
Just south of the Crown is said to be the beginning of the J’Whanté Ridge Road, a dangerous passage following the highest passable ways of the Sahrjiun Mountains. It was a trail blazed by the Druids long ago, and used by Oshang in the Kl’Duryq War.
North of the Crown is said to be the near impassible Mon-Jynn Trail, cresting the North Sahrjiun and ending somewhere near the Kohnarahs Bay Territory. This trail is believed to have once been connected to the J’Whanté Ridge Road, forming the mythical Rim-Rock Road, once travelled by Druids, Leprechauns and others.
Riding his own horse up front of the caravan with Albri, Jann Raul saw these sights as Albri pointed them out. Carefully, Albri pointed to the Devil’s Crown, then to the north and south and explained he had seen these very roads, himself, and told his young ward many tales of encounters he had experienced and heard.
But not before Jann Raul experienced an encounter of his own in the Devil’s Kitchen.
Chapter 3
ALBRI EXPLAINED TO Jann Raul, “In the wilderness, distance is not measured so much by miles of road or as a bird flies, but in how many days it takes to venture from here to yon. I have seen trails of but four miles in measured distance which took three days to journey. Yet again, I have been over trails of twenty miles and covered such in a day with time enough left at the end.”
Jann Raul took well to the nature of preparation for the journey to Xenias and relished in it. Albri gave him chores to fulfill, “… as every man must pull his share of a load.” But the boy had learned the art of frugal practice long ago.
With fresh washed features and hair in modern trim, Jann Raul was recognized by none who might have known him only days ago. Even as Albri brought the boy with him by wagon to Machest’s station to procure supplies of dried and smoked meat, a venture accused by Gordi as being ill thought and a press of fortune, the burly man recognized the helpful lad not a whit.
Indeed, Machest made mention, “Now there is a likely lad, a most helpful gift to a man and his deportment is sound. Here, young fellow, take a morsel of jerky to savor.” Both Albri and Jann Raul kept the joke between them as Machest muttered, “Nothing like the rascal of three days past.” With a gesture to Albri, “I render solemn apology to you, Master Albri, as to my own retort, but … well … of no mind. I would not truly wish the rag-a-muffin ill will … you did proper by him, I presume?”
“Ah, not to worry good Machest. I venture you will not see him again for some time to come.”
Together, Albri and Jann Raul laughed as they drove their wagon back to the Tenshai Teahouse.
Two mornings forward saw the caravan prepare to make departure from Bli’ath toward the city of Xenias. Logan had denied the largest majority of merchants their petition to travel with him. Ultimate
ly, he had chosen fourteen, each with one wagon, a team of at least four horses and four experienced guards.
Jann Raul had been present for the meetings and when Logan saw his confused, yet deliberating expression, he sat down beside him and explained, “Travel through such a dangerous area is, well, dangerous. If you really know your way, you can get through alone pretty well. A small group who know each other’s skills, and possess sufficient of said skills, can do well also.
“But travelling with such a large group of merchants in such a dangerous territory is asking for trouble.” Logan thought a moment and added, “It would be like you, you hadn’t been caught for two whole years. But if you jumped up and took some bread, and ran out into the middle of the Bazaar and waved it around so you could be seen …” Logan let the idea linger as he looked into Jann Raul’s face, and then was pleased to see he got it.
Logan’s personal wagon took the lead, although he rode his favored mount, a tall, dark grey gelding with black mane, tail and legs. Albri had his own wagon as well, and his followed behind the lead. Between the two was cached gear for Jann Raul, Gordi and Kaurl; the latter having thrown in with Logan as bodyguards of an official nature. Next in line were the wagons of Logan’s obligatory entourage.
It seemed the Church of Eayah took the care of their high priests, even those not yet ordained, very seriously … or they wished it to appear so.
Albri told Jann Raul, “Prior to this day, for thirty-seven years even, Logan has made his own way, by hand and treasury, in all endeavors of which his church in after times claim reward. Take care to disconsider this which you may see, for it is all window dressing.”
He winked at the boy and added, “Levy me your trust, Logan could leave these all in confusion and find himself safely to the corners of the world. Need these clods, he does not. They are not prepared for the man of whom Logan is.”
Jann Raul asked, “Why is he do dis?”
Albri squeezed the boy’s shoulder and tossed his amused head sideways, “It is a splendid question indeed. I fear it is most complicated.”
“Do you no follow … Eayah?”
“I walk beside my friend, and for me it is enough.”
Jann Raul took the saying to heart and reflected long upon it.
The entourage assigned to accompany Logan to Xenias was not pleased with Logan’s friends being allowed, what they declared places of honor, among the travelling placement. Nor were they happy that Logan refused plans for the customary palace tent to be erected in the evening camps.
As soon as the administrator of the entourage, a sanctioned priest named Rh’Tosh, heard Logan had turned down so many merchants he voiced strenuous debate. Jann Raul was there and heard it clearly.
Rh’Tosh came to Logan and said, “A word, if you would please, Your Excellency?!”
Logan was personally securing a barrel to his wagon and cast a quick glance, then responded as he was working, “Yes-s-s?”
Jann Raul saw Rh’Tosh seemed to be holding in exasperation, but the boy didn’t understand why, “Your attention … please …”
“Speak, go ahead, I’m working.”
“Do you not know who I am?”
Logan continued without fluster and in casual manner said, “Yes, Rh’Tosh, I know exactly who you are.”
Rh’Tosh seemed taken aback as Logan continued with a smile, “You are the fifth son of Prince Lewin of Camorra, who is in turn second son of the king and not in line for the throne. You have been appointed a Quasi-Priest of the Camthede Order, are to escort me to Xenias where you hope to gain a position, you dislike my roguish traveling attire, and you are about to voice displeasure. I am only allowed a small force to travel on the premise you believe my reputation and abilities should keep the oppressors at bay.”
Rh’Tosh was stunned.
Logan paused and turned to speak directly to Rh’Tosh without any possibility of misunderstanding, “The denizens out there in those mountains respect my skill and abilities, but they don’t think in the soft civilized manner you are accustomed to. It only makes for a bigger challenge to strike down someone they respect.
“They are killers, you are a politician. You have never gotten your fingernails dirty, they don’t give a damn. If you want to go collect a huge bunch of merchants to go through that region at this time of year, then you do it. But you will not be travelling with me.”
Logan turned to a stack of one hundred pound sacks and hefted one easily to his shoulder, then glanced back to Rh’Tosh and said, “You better get ready, I’m pulling out first thing in the morning, long before you normally get up. If you want to go along, you better be hitched, in line and ready to go.”
When Jann Raul mentioned the exchange to Albri, Albri said with a sarcastic grin, “They have no-o-o idea ...”
Jann Raul actually knew Rh’Tosh, or at least knew of him, things he had seen him do. Rh’Tosh had been a frequent patron of a certain booth in the Bazaar, a booth known to procure certain kinds of supplies for those who worked the Eldohrich Arts.
From what Jann Raul understood, Eayah was against that kind of thing. Jann Raul knew other things as well, in fact, he knew lots about lots of people and things, but … it was none of his business.
This much was for certain, Jann Raul knew he didn’t like Rh’Tosh. There was just something about him ...
Rh’Tosh, on the other hand, was nice to everyone; at least when he was looking at them, anyway.
Once, a long time ago, maybe a whole year, Jann Raul actually saw Rh’Tosh use a magic effect, but it was nothing like what he heard Logan could do. And of course, Logan healed him of Bochima Sickness, or he thought he had. Jann Raul had not yet asked.
The mist had not yet risen and fragrant winds washed from the Forosai Hills as the first crack of teamster reins sounded, urging the cavalcade into a forward motion.
For most, this was the start of a new venture. But for Jann Raul Jha’Ley, this was the beginning of a whole new life. Every day began with Tai’Jhi as he accompanied Albri, Logan and sometimes Gordi. Albri was always teaching him some little something about the wilderness, survival, adventures, this thing called science and what really fascinated the boy was when Albri talked about the sea.
Albri could see Jann Raul’s excitement about rolling waves, the smell of salt spray, seeing the sun both rise and fall against an endless horizon, and the feel of sturdy wood beneath the feet. Albri knew, because he had the same feeling. It is why he had chosen to live out his days on an island to do what he felt would be his life’s work.
Jann Raul had been well prepared by Albri and friends for the possibility of an attack … but when it happened he was still caught with uncertainty.
The Pihpikow Road was a series of sharp curves and winding turns. In no place could he have seen beyond the twenty wagons, and in some places not more than four or five.
It was around a left-wise bend beside a cliff when a rumble from above could be heard and a call of alarm was sounded. A series of boulders suddenly came hurtling down the side of the slanted rock wall not far behind the lead wagon.
Jann Raul glanced upward and saw the descent, but before he could react, Albri had hurtled from his horse to tackle him from his own mount, landing upon the ground with a roll and into a depression on the road side where Albri covered him with his own body.
Jann Raul was upon his back and saw the boulders suddenly veer from the obvious point of contact … and to the boy’s awe they arched over the caravan and continued far to the right side of the road. It was as if the boulders had travelled across some sort of invisible bridge.
There was no time to marvel, as immediately Gordi was crouching above them with hand upon Albri’s shoulder and urgently spoke the words, “Fahldorus niusami …” then was off and running, but Jann Raul could not see where.
Albri commanded, “Stay here!” After which he rolled off of the boy and drew his sword.
Jann Raul had seen the sword many times in the last few days, as Albri had
been teaching him the fundamentals of combat. The blade was unlike most the boy had ever seen, as it was of a curved nature and single edged. It was shaped like an ancient elvin blade, Albri had explained, and blended well with the Tai’Jhi circular style of motion. He called it a dao-sword.
Rolling over in the depression to watch, there was chaos all about as what appeared to be bandits were everywhere. To one side, Gordi was wielding a staff Jann Raul did not know he had, and it seemed to be surrounded with some kind of blurred effect.
Jann Raul was amazed at the skill Gordi displayed and the sheer power he possessed. He became surrounded by opponents with various types of sword and axe, yet he parried this one, struck another, one bandit’s sword shattered, a helmet went flying through the air, a circle of motion with the staff and the legs were swept from another as the bandit was spun in a full circle and landed on his face.
Gordi hesitated for just an instant, but why … as five bandits rushed in on him, Gordi stabbed his staff into the ground and suddenly his foes were violently knocked away from him in a twenty-foot radius. A spin of his weapon and Gordi was down on one knee, staff positioned behind him, as he looked outward with a taunting eye and loudly challenged, “Ha-a-a-ah! Who is next?!”
A flash of light from the other side of the caravan seized Jann Raul’s attention, as he saw the dissipation of a prism of color. Was that a row of skeletons he saw falling down amid the color?
Where was …?
Two of the wagon guardsmen were fighting their own foes when one took a sword in the back.
There … there was Albri, as Jann Raul watched with stilled breath … Albri joined the fray and before the one bandit could withdraw his blade from the guardsman’s back, Albri severed the bandit’s wrist with a beautiful upward strike and followed the motion with a weaving pattern behind the offender’s knees. With one fluid technique he slid the blade across and upward, removing the legs at the knee, and deflecting another bandit’s blade with yet another upward swing followed by a dance-like step and pivot, allowing Albri to strike once in the torso and into another successive motion downward onto the neck … all performed with one threaded course of circulation.
