by Chris Ward
And now I must get into the Palace, he thought, but he turned to see the three horses watching him. He smiled and went to them. ‘I will leave the gates open,’ he said, ‘you are free to go. Go north, the land is not yet sunk. You can easily get to some safety together,’ and he called them and they followed and he left them standing by the open gates to Little Ramos. Then he turned and went back and with great care he made his way down the ramp with rushing water around his ankles and no firm hand hold anywhere, but he arrived at the bottom and stepped with relief out of the growing torrent onto the dry and sandy floor of the tunnel. It was then Rema realised he had no torch. He cursed softly and looked about, but there was none to be had. He went to the ramp thinking to go back up, but three times he tried and each time he almost slipped upon the slope and fell into the waters. In frustration he stood in the dim light and knew what he must do.
A league in the dark, he thought. And I do not remember if there were any tunnels off to the sides. He turned and looked at the churning waters racing to the north down the sloping tunnel where Gryfnor’s tent had been swept away. Unless it is caught somewhere upon some rock, came a thought, and he shivered for the thought of what lay before him disturbed him greatly.
‘Come on Rema,’ he whispered, ‘it will be alright. It is only dark.’ But he found that this did not help at all.
He took an arrow from his quiver and held it out to his left so that it touched the wall. He walked a few paces and allowed the arrow to scrap along so that in the dark he knew where the wall might be. He went a little further and realised he was now in total darkness. He put his right hand before his face and could not see it at all. He calmed himself and went another twenty paces, slowly, and found that he managed well enough. If I can do that he thought it will not change, there is just more of the same.
And so Rema went on but he had not counted upon his mind and the tricks it might play upon him in the dark. He began to think of the tent which lay behind him somewhere in the blackness, and what it held. No matter how he tried to ignore it, he kept thinking that something might have been released and would crawl up after him. He remembered that he had felt the tunnel haunted when first he went through it. These thoughts grew and became fears and then suddenly the arrow no longer scraped upon the wall. Rema froze and went back three paces and felt the wall once more. With his hands he found a corner. There is another passage going left, he thought, the corner seems too sharp. And then he heard the sound. It was a faint clicking sort of sound which he did not recognize. His heart pounded so much he could not hear anything for a while. Thoughts screamed in his head. ‘This cannot be true, there is nothing there, it is just your imagination,’ he said over and over as he forced himself to work out where next to step. If there is a side passage I must keep straight on and I will find the wall a few paces on, he thought. And so with fear of what might be behind, and fear that he would lose contact with the wall Rema decided which way to walk and took three great steps. His arrow to the left still reached into space. He took three more and this remained unchanged. ‘Go back!’ a voice screamed in his head, but he forced himself on and suddenly he bumped into the wall and by feel he determined he had passed by the side passage and the main tunnel stretched ahead once more. His heart still pounded so he rested and took breath. And there it was again, the thing behind him. It was no imagined monster, there was something coming up the tunnel after him. Rema’s skin crawled with fear. He turned and keeping the arrow on the wall he ran, not caring if he knocked himself senseless, on he went and still behind him there was the sound of something in the tunnel. On and on Rema went as fast as could until he thought in mad panic, I have taken a wrong turn, I am lost forever, this is hopeless. He stopped and once more forced some composure on himself. And then more slowly he went on. He stopped. The clicking sound was still coming. It was closer. He ran a bit, and now it seemed a faint light was ahead. He looked resolutely at it and walked on. The sound behind him seemed so close but Rema would not allow himself to look back. I die if look back, he thought.
Breathing hard and with a heart that seemed about to break out of his chest Rema suddenly came upon the iron gate which gave access to the Palace. He stopped and knew that behind him the thing was there, and the gate was locked. He forced himself to turn. There was nothing. And then first he saw the eyes. High up. Six eyes. What fell beast is this that haunts this place he thought with a dreadful shiver, and then a soft whinnying and Rema collapsed. Three horses came up and nuzzled him gently as he sat upon the ground. He felt light headed, he felt as though he would be sick. He felt such relief.
‘Oh,’ he said, ‘oh you gave me such a scare,’ and he thought the horses smiled at him as if to say, ‘fair payment for leaving us back there.’ And Rema stood and with some guilt he patted them and soothed them and was filled with relief. And shortly after Tuban came with a torch in answer to his mad calling through the gate.
And so Rema returned to Ramos and back to Rayven as he promised.
Chapter 24
Rayven cried out in shock when she saw him. ‘Where have you been Rema? Every day I went and waited, but you did not come...’ And Rema stood bewildered before her, and Germayne too looked amazed to see him.
‘You know where I went,’ he replied slowly, greatly puzzled at their reaction. ‘I went to slay Gryfnor on your request Rayven.’
‘But you did not return,’ Rayven whispered, her face wet with tears.
And then Rema knew.
‘How long have I been gone?’ he asked quietly his heart once more pounding hard.
‘One full moon,’ Rayven replied, ‘and each day a torment for me.’ And then she ran to him and they embraced as Rema understood more fully.
‘To me it has been but two days,’ he said most deliberately, ‘and I returned as quickly as I could.’
And Germayne shook her head in disbelief. Rayven too stepped back and looked hard at Rema.
‘What happened that you were so confused?’
And so Rema sat and recounted all that had happened and answered every question until they understood. Rayven shook her head in wonder and Germayne too marvelled at his words.
‘Within the tent time passes at a different pace,’ Rayven whispered.
‘A fearful pace is what I would say,’ Rema replied with a wry smile, remembering all that he had experienced there.
‘But I knew you would do it Rema,’ Rayven said with deep admiration. ‘You have once more acted with great valour. That you did not leave the tent was right. Who knows what might have come to pass if that remained.’ She paused and went on. ‘I am gladdened that in the end both Gryfnor and Zydor have fallen. Although we too will soon be gone, they at least will not rise again to infect what might remain.’
‘We too?’ Rema repeated her words. ‘What do you mean Rayven? We too?’
‘Come and look,’ Rayven said sadly and led him out onto the great balcony, and Rema stood stunned, and could not speak. The sea stretched south before him to the far horizon. To the east and west it was the same. He went and looked down into the city, and it was half submerged, right to the market square which had waves lapping at its lower end.
Rema finally turned to Rayven. ‘What other news of Ramos and here in the Palace? You must tell me what has come to pass?’ And so Rayven told him all.
‘Six days ago the city was cut off. The sea has reached all around the walls. The Nephilim returned two days before and with them bought four hundred from the land. We now have seven hundred in the Palace who are safe and well fed, but increasingly some see the encroachment of the sea and wonder what they have come to. The last carriave returned some days ago and we know that the sea has swept in over the coast in most places. The Nephilim too tell of this. They found many in a panic and much evil to match. The sacrifice has continued and I suppose will do so until the water sweeps away all who practice it.’ She stood and walked about and gathered her thoughts and Rema sat and did the same.
‘The Palace i
s now sealed,’ Rayven continued. ‘We went forth and sought the people and invited any who would turn back from Gryfnor’s ways to come and be safe, only that they must throw away the Diabules and forsake what they had done.’ And Rayven slammed a fist angrily into her palm. ‘And not one would listen Rema, they spoke of Gryfnor’s return and how he would turn back the water and restore their city to glory. They would not see, even as the water came day by day.’ And she shivered. ‘I gave the order. The Palace has been sealed and none have come to beat upon the gates. They are lost. The people are lost. Revelyn is lost.’ And Rayven wept and Germayne too, whilst Rema sat in silent shock at the news.
‘And what of Gravyn?’ Rema asked in sudden remembrance of the great archer.
‘He is safe,’ Germayne replied with a smile at last. ‘He was almost caught after finding a boat. He succeeded as you did Rema in removing the tent from any who might still seek it, but he was chased by a crowd and hid and then went to his family for his kindma and a sister were still not in the Palace. He brought them here for both had refused to go with Gryfnor despite great hardship. But the crowd beat him before he escaped and his mind is not quite right.’ She brightened. ‘But he will be glad to see you for when he thought you lost as we did, he sunk into a silence and has not spoken for some time.’
‘Then I will cheer him up as best I can, and soon,’ Rema said, but then turned to Rayven. ‘You know my thoughts, I must ask. What next comes to pass? Did you discover any understanding of some provision that might save those of us who remain?’ And Rayven stared at Rema and struggled to speak.
‘I have searched the writings of the Wisden each day. I have sat in the dark so that I could not see and allowed what gift remained in me of that race to read what I could find,’ and she held up her fingers and Rema saw they were raw and bloody from the work. ‘My fingers told me many things,’ Rayven went on, ‘I did indeed read and understand, that the passing from this land is held to be... to be not death as I always knew, but the how of it is not revealed to me, except that it is to a place beyond words; a place such that we cannot on this side of it, even begin to describe what it will be like.’
‘For good or for bad?’ Rema asked innocently, but thought it a fair question.
‘Far more than good,’ Rayven whispered. ‘It will be wonderful. But that is all I have found in many, many days.’ She paused.
‘No other clue?’ Rema asked quietly.
‘I know the answer lies in the writings,’ Rayven went on, ‘but I have not the full gift the Wisden had. It remains a mystery.’
And they sat and thought and then Germayne suggested that she bring Gravyn and that seemed good and she departed to find where he might be.
‘You came back Rema?’ Rayven said when they were alone.
‘Did I not promise that I would,’ Rema replied, and Rayven went to him and they embraced again, and this time they held each other as if they would never part. Rema kissed her gently as a lover might and Rayven did not resist. It was a brief and lovely moment and then they stood apart.
‘I suppose our love has little time,’ Rema said. ‘How long will the water take to steal what is left to us?’
‘I think two days and it will be at the Palace gates,’ she replied thoughtfully. ‘We cannot keep the water out. Evil we have managed thus far; but water,’ she shook her head. ‘That requires a miracle.’ And they went and stood out on the balcony and looked down into the doomed city and saw that now the market was half covered. ‘It comes faster than we think,’ Rayven whispered and put her arms around Rema and he around her. And the Palace shook, and the land wept.
Gravyn enter the chamber with a smile for the news of Rema’s return was like a tonic to him. ‘You are safe Rema,’ he said and went and embraced him. ‘I could not bear that we had lost you too.’
‘Well here I am,’ Rema replied and looked upon the great archer and saw his head was bandaged heavily on one side. ‘You took a beating Gravyn,’ he said, and Gravyn nodded solemnly.
‘What hurt as much as the blows,’ he replied, ‘was that they knew me and had once given me such acclaim. I was a named a hero and in truth I had enjoyed their praise for my life was lonely in the main. But when I was cornered they called me names and wanted blood for they knew that I had stolen Gryfnor’s tent and this to them was...’ he thought for the word.
‘It was sacrilege,’ Rema said.
‘Aye, it was that,’ Gravyn replied. ‘I was nothing to them for I had thwarted their salvation which was Gryfnor’s way and all to do with him.’
‘But you escaped,’ Rayven said.
‘In the end I took three rocks to the head and I beat them off. I was angry and they fled. I had not wanted to be violent to my own people, but I saw that my life was to be taken. I am glad I did not have my bow or I would have slain many, as it is I bloodied some and the rest cowered and ran off.’ He sighed. ‘It was a sad moment and then I found my way home and hid with my kindma and sister, and they fixed my head as best they could and I brought them here.’ He looked at Rema. ‘But the news that you had not returned brought a dark mood upon me Rema. You are the only one to ever best me with the bow, and we have been close in times past.’ Tears filled his eyes, and Rema too choked a little at the man’s emotion.
‘I too am glad that you are safe.’ Rema took a breath and looked to change the conversation for he did not trust himself to speak further on such matters of friendship and loss. ‘What did you find that day down in the port, a boat I am told?’
And Gravyn smiled. ‘There was not much to be had Rema, I walked with that awful load upon my shoulder and there was nothing. I went down a street and found water blocking me. Three times this happened and I thought that Gryfnor or that ugly mob would find me, but suddenly by a wall where the water had been halted there was a boat; a rowboat and a man who sat in it hailed me. I remember what he said. ‘You seem to be looking for a boat.’ He knew my mind I thought but I was glad to see him and asked if he would take me out onto the river for three gold coins, and he replied, ‘I will take you for free to rid you of that load’...’ And the others listened closely to Gravyn’s story for he had not told the detail of it to any.
‘We rowed out into the middle and he helped me sink the tent. He did not ask why and he would not accept payment.’ Gravyn spoke in a quiet and awed manner as if the encounter had moved him in a special way. ‘He was older than I, and I remember his eyes for they were kind and warm. I did not ask his name for I thought it not important at the time, although now I wish I had.’ The great archer frowned, ‘And I should have invited him here to safety in the Palace, but I wanted to get back, my mind was selfishly inclined.’ He paused, ‘but one thing I did ask and it was strange...’
And Rema felt a tingle run down his spine, and Rayven sat forward upon the chair on which she rested, whilst Germayne found her heart beating very fast...
‘What Gravyn, what did you ask of this man?’ Rayven asked
‘Well,’ Gravyn said quietly, ‘when we returned to the shore I stood and waved as he rowed off, and I saw a name upon the back of the boat. It was the strangest name and I wondered what it meant.’
He paused as if remembering that very moment, which indeed he was. The others waited until Rayven prompted him again.
‘What name Gravyn?’ she whispered.
‘The name was Sonder.’
At this all three who listened felt a thrill, but Gravyn went on unaware. ‘I asked him what it meant, and he called back quite cheerfully, I remember that, he called back, ‘it means Provision’, and I thought it right for it was there when I was in desperate need.’ He smiled and then looked at Rayven who was trembling with excitement. ‘What have I said?’ he asked bemused. But Rayven stood and cried out in joy.
‘It must be that, although I had given it up long ago.’ And Rema then surprised Rayven.
‘There is a door in KingsLoss deep under in a tunnel upon which that very word is carved. Sonder. Tryon showed me... and Reigin,
and we did not know what to make of it then...’
‘It all fits then...Follow me,’ Rayven ordered interrupting him, ‘Now,’ she repeated urgently, ‘all of you,’ and she led them off and so fast they had to run for Rayven fairly flew, and her mind was now greatly excited. She took them down into the lower passages and further down to where a set of steps led on, and down still further. And no one spoke but they suspected what must be there.
‘Down there,’ Rayven pointed, ‘it is down there,’ and off she went again and down many steps they came to a flat landing with a door to one side. They rested but did not speak and then went on till a level passage stood before them, and some distance on a huge stone door.
‘It was like this,’ Rema said in awe. ‘The one in KingsLoss.’ And he pointed to it. And they all saw...Sonder, the word was clear to be read above a slot which was cut into the centre, about a sword’s length off the floor.
‘This is our provision,’ Rayven said. ‘I had considered it, but it has been impossible to open. In hundreds of summers many have tried but it has not moved. But Sonder means Provision and you Gravyn met El-Arathor for it was he who rowed your boat and he has once more given us the clues when all seems lost.’
And they stood and looked upon the huge stone door and wondered what might lie on the other side, and then Rema asked what they all were thinking.
‘How then do we open this door if it has not been possible in the past?’
‘That I do not yet know,’ Rayven said, ‘but we have been given the way, now I will find the key. We must. El-Arathor would not bring us to this place unless we could go the final step.’ And she ran her hands over the door and they all felt the stone and knew it was immovable without the key, and none had any clue.
‘All has been tried in that slot,’ Rayven said. ‘Keys have been made to fit with perfection. Attempts have been made to cut around but the rock here is harder than any tools we possess. Even the Shadow Blade has been tried many times. This is why I have not thought it possible that this is the way.’
