There were one or two more turns and then they dismounted. Leaving the horses well back from the cliff, they approached the Blue Stone. The inscription was in an ancient tongue, and the translation was pure tradition—no on alive today could say whether it was proper or not.
It might just be gibberish.
Lowren approached the tall stone, tapering to a point, with a small pyramidal section on top as if to finish it off.
Pulling off his heavy fur mitt, he touched the stone.
“Hmn.” It was almost warm compared to the surrounding air, which was chill with a brisk wind on the exposed lip of the escarpment.
That much of the legend was true, at least.
Not that the sun wouldn’t warm it, thought Lowren, whereas the snow reflected back all that heat and light with its searing glare in the noonday sun.
Eleanora came up beside her lover.
Looking out over the valley and her city below, she took a breath and began to recite.
The strong man is gentle, for he has nothing to fear,
The coward is always cruel, and he dies a thousand deaths.
Beware the paths of glory
For in the end, all is vanity.
Before you there are two paths
One is easy and the other one is hard.
Choose wisely, for this shall be your fate.
“Great Jupiter! Is that really what it says?” Lowren was dumbfounded.
“According to legend, yes, Lowren…my love. That is what it says.”
There was a long silence and Lowren touched the stone again, then put his mitt back on. He couldn’t say if this one particular stone was any warmer than any other—the rocky ground under them was right there if one cared to make the comparison.
He shook his head, dismissing it. It was all true, of course.
“Interesting.”
With a knowing smile, she pulled a silver flask from an inner pocket and turned away to where the ponies patiently waited.
The days were at their shortest, it was very cold, and they were looking at a long ride back down the mountain.
And it was good advice, if you could take it.
End
About the Author
Louis Shalako began writing for community newspapers and industrial magazines. His stories appear in publications including Perihelion Science Fiction, Bewildering Stories, Aurora Wolf, Ennea, Wonderwaan, Algernon, Nova Fantasia, and Danse Macabre. He lives in southern Ontario and writes full time.
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