A Twist of the Tale

by P R Glazier

  Chapter 26. The Ognod Queen

  Solvienne stirred and awoke slowly, but she was shocked into consciousness by the sudden remembrance that they had been forced to try and rest standing up leaning against the wall of their prison, it was just unthinkable to lay down amongst the bones and decaying remains of so many individuals. But at some time in the night their muscles had succumbed to fatigue and both had sunk down and now they found themselves lying against the wall of their prison amongst the bones of the previous occupants. She shuddered and found herself shaking. Amndo was soon awake; he stood and lifted her quickly to her feet. Solvienne found herself hugging Amndo’s chest. She was shaking uncontrollably; moaning as if in lament for the lost souls who’s scattered remains lay knee deep across the floor. Amndo made soft noises and stroked her head. In another situation this would have been uncharacteristic for his race, but here now he felt a strange desire to calm Solvienne, perhaps he had been around T’Iea and others long enough to understand in some way the emotional needs of the other races. Slowly with eyes shut tight Solvienne concentrated, calming herself until she was able to thank him, he nodded his response.

  Then she remembered the door, behind which something fearful and unknown beast was kept. She looked towards the door but it remained still. She sought an answer in Amndo’s eyes, he just shook his head as if to say that he had not heard anything further. Solvienne was relieved, but she started as a creaking noise above them made them look up. Sunlight streamed in through the now open doorway above, a face peered in and was withdrawn, it was followed by the ladder being pushed in and then allowed to swing downwards until it again rested with a sickening crunch on the bones lying upon the floor. The ladder was lifted and dropped three or four times, each time bones were smashed and broken until whoever held the ladder above was satisfied that the ladder rested securely upon the floor of the chamber.

  A deep voice from above called down to them, “climb.”

  At the same time something heavy threw its weight against the door at the bottom of the chamber and an unearthly scream resounded from the other side of the door as it was continually pounded by whatever lay imprisoned beyond.

  They both made their way hurriedly over to the bottom of the ladder and Amndo held Solvienne’s elbow supporting her until she was safely upon the first visible rung. She climbed as quickly as possible wanting to get herself clear of the pit but also aware that until she was out of the way Amndo would remain at the bottom of the ladder. Her fear was that she wasn’t quick enough and whatever lay beyond the door would break through and she would have to live with the knowledge that his bones also lay at the bottom of the pit.

  But soon they both stood outside the building once more. There before them stood the robed ognod from the day before. Solvienne squinted in the sudden brightness, even though it must have been early morning for the shadows were long, there was a light mist in the air and the ground was moist with dew, or maybe it had even rained during the night. The robed ognod indicated that they should follow him. They did so.

  “Where are you taking us?” Solvienne asked, trying to keep her voice calm despite the feeling of panic that still lay upon her breast.

  The ognod just grunted a meaningless response.

  They found themselves winding their way up the streets of the ognod city. A feeling of déjà vu came across Solvienne, then she realised that what she was looking at had been described in great detail in the stories that Minervar used to tell her and her brother when they were children. The city mimicked those descriptions exactly. She remembered Thor had always asked for greater detail, he was always interested in anything to do with the military and the ognod city and its fortifications was always a high point for him in the tales that Minervar related. Solvienne looked about her; they were in deed making their way up through the city towards the great mound in the centre, the hill upon which stood the great hall where Minervar and her companions had met with Gruntuk. But according to Minervar he was no longer leader. For after his daughter Retta’s successful return from her part in the task that Minervar and Serinae undertook, Gruntuk had handed the responsibility of leadership to his daughter. He recognised that ognod society needed to adapt; needed to change if the race of the ognod’s were to survive. Retta’s attitudes were much better placed to undertake these daunting tasks and her ambitions definitely lay in that direction. So Gruntuk in recognition of his daughter’s capabilities had abdicated in her favour. Solvienne only hoped that Retta was still leader and still harboured the drive to make sweeping changes for the better, for Amndo’s and her very lives may depend upon it.

  They continued to trudge upwards until finally their journey saw them standing at the top of the wide steps that led to the great wooden doors of the palace. Solvienne knew these doors would allow them access to the great hall in which she hoped they would meet Retta. With a loud clanking and creaking the great doors swung open, pushed by two enormous ognod’s in leather breeches and wearing thick leather boots with fur-lined tops, their bare upper torsos covered in tattoos and other artwork traced in scars of all sorts. They grunted as they pushed, muscles in arms and chest knotted and bulged until they looked like they may burst through the ognod’s skin against the strenuous effort to raise the two counterbalancing blocks that Solvienne knew were part of the mechanism. The Ognods held the doors open by leaning with all their might against them and Solvienne, Amndo and their robed ognod escort passed through into what Solvienne knew would be the antechamber to the great hall. Sure enough their further passage was prevented by two great stone slabs, the counterbalance weights that cut off further access whilst the doors remained open. An ingenious defensive invention, for if any invading army made it this far into the city and managed to get inside the palace, then they would have to close the doors once more to allow their forward passage, but only a few warriors would fit inside this small area, they would be trapped by the doors shut behind, the great blocks would be lowered once. Once that had happened they would be picked off quickly for the palace could hold many more warriors than could traverse the entrance mechanism in a single opening. Sure enough behind them the ognod doormen released their pressure upon the doors and the weight of the two stone slabs again closed the doors. The slabs slowly descended with a rumbling-grinding sound until the tops of both were roughly at floor height and both doors to the outside where now closed. The bang of the stones settling into place reverberated around the large space of the inside of the palace building. The company could now walk over the top of the slabs and there before them in the gloom of dull fires they could see the full extent of the massive great hall within the palace of the ognods.

  They were ushered forward into the enormous space. Solvienne was astonished. Even though she remembered the descriptions given by Minervar, the actual experience of being here far surpassed her own imagined understanding of the place. For a start it was much bigger than she had previously thought. She recognised the descriptions of the ceiling far above them held aloft by numerous great wooden pillars. The carvings and depictions upon those pillars. The many hearths with their glowing fires. As they proceeded up the centre of the hall, Solvienne saw ognods lining each side of the hall, standing, sitting, even sleeping between the massive wooden pillars. Some took casual notice of them as they passed; some stood staring intently with an air of arrogance about their countenance, their eyes drilled into Solvienne and the others. Most of the occupants however took no notice of their passing what so ever.

  It seemed like another separate journey to walk to where they eventually found themselves at the base of a raised dais. The robed ognod held up one arm indicating they should halt. He walked forward and standing in front of them said something low and guttural, he slammed his right forearm and fist into his chest in an obvious gesture of greeting, a salute perhaps. He then stepped backwards a slight bow to his head. Something up upon the dais, in the gloom beyond him moved. Solvienne peered into the gloom to see a large figure rise slowly from a larg
e wooden throne set at the top of the steps. The hooded figure stood there for some minutes before slowly stepping forward into the brighter glow of the many fires that illuminated the hall. The figure was unmistakably an ognod, just the height and physical size of the figure made this fact unmistakable. Yet the overall stature of the figure was somehow smaller, less imposing than the ognod warriors Solvienne and Amndo had so far come across. The ognod descended the steps and stood before them. They could not see any of the ognods features apart from the lower jaw and the distinctive curved canine teeth. The loose hood the figure wore turned as the figure obviously gazed from Solvienne back to Amndo. Then it rested on Solvienne and looked down. Solvienne followed the figures gaze, down to her hips. But there was nothing of interest there, only the quiver that Nar’Allia had given her, Serinae’s old quiver, but what interest would that rouse in the thoughts of an ognod leader?

  Solvienne took hold of the quiver that hung from her belt and held it up slowly. As she did so the hooded head followed the passage that the quiver made. “You know this quiver? You have seen its like before?”

  The hood moved and the figure appeared to look directly at Solvienne’s face. Solvienne was sure she had a glimpse of bright shining eyes, as they flashed across the reflected firelight. Then a voice said, “come.”

  The figure turned and made its way back up the stairs, Solvienne and Amndo looked towards the robed ognod that had escorted them here, he indicated with a movement of his head that they should indeed follow. As they ascended the steps an armoured guard holding a long spear also appeared from behind a pillar. The figure at the top of the stairs stopped and said something in the ognod language; the guard saluted by thumping his fist upon his chest and went back behind the pillar. The figures hood turned slightly to one side as if looking back towards where Solvienne and Amndo stood, it repeated itself, “come.”

  Solvienne and Amndo reached the top of the steps and stood by the side of the throne, ahead of them the figure pulled a long heavy curtain or tapestry aside and was standing halfway through the gap, the figure then passed beyond the curtain and the cloth fell back once more into place. Amndo shrugged and walked forward, he held the curtain, it was heavy and he had to exert some pressure to move the material aside, he gestured to Solvienne to pass through, that done he also walked through and let the heavy material fall back once more.

  They stood in a small reasonably well-lit anteroom. Amndo could see more tapestries hung from the walls, they had faded over the years and not much detail could be seen, in the far corner there was a desk. Next to it stood some kind of occasional table perhaps for an ognod sized chair would certainly not fit beneath the table top, let alone a pair of seated ognod sized knees. But then Amndo stared, for upon the table a silver tray was placed. But it was what lay in the tray that surprised Amndo. There in the tray lay several very shiny black stones.

  The figure of the ognod had scrutinised their every move and now the figure asked, “so you recognise my little collection master keeper? But of course your race has always had dealings with the key stones, but perhaps it surprises you that I have my own selection?”

  Amndo tore his gaze from the stones and looked at the ognod figure they had followed into this chamber. The hood had been pulled back; he stared into the face of what looked like a young ognod, for the upper lip had not grown sufficiently large as yet to contain the lower canine teeth. But then he knew that this ognod may possibly be female for it was common for ognodess’s to never grow so large as to be able to hide their lower teeth. He knew the ognod males found this an attractive even an alluring feature of their women folk. He tore his gaze away and was about to say something in response to the question that was asked when another voice sounded.

  “Retta?”

  Amndo looked at Solvienne who had just spoken.

  The Ognodess turned to face Solvienne, she said, “Have we met T’Iea one? Your face looks somehow familiar.” Then her eyes darted down once more to the quiver that Solvienne held.

  “You know of this?” Asked Solvienne once again.

  “I have seen it before yes, many cycles past now. It was one of your kin that possessed it, how is it you come by this thing?” She remained staring at the quiver; Solvienne thought she saw sadness in the Retta’s features as she spoke again. “The T’Iea of whom I speak was a great warrior, worthy of many tales. But she passed out of this world and was lost to us.”

  “Solvienne nodded, “yes, you speak of the ranger Serinae, this is her quiver and so still remains as far as I am concerned. Another gave me the quiver, one who travelled with you long ago. I only bare it temporarily until its true owner may once more be found.”

  Retta nodded slowly in a form of understanding or agreement Solvienne supposed. Or perhaps out of unquestioned acceptance of her words. But she did utter a name, “The healer, Minervar.”

  Solvienne nodded, “yes Minervar. Minervar is my mother.” She could not help her voice faltering with emotion, the reminder of her mother and the fact that she stood here where her mother and Serinae stood long ago suddenly brought a lump to her throat making it difficult to speak. But she gathered herself and fought her emotions down until she could once again speak. “She took all of Serinae’s things home with her after you set things right with the ancient father’s great machine.”

  Retta just stared at Solvienne.

  Solvienne added, “I can see that you remember her and perhaps her other companions of which you were one.”

  Retta nodded. “Yes, I remember. Their coming heralded the start of something that I had long hoped for. I rejoiced for they heralded a time of great change for my people. The battle to embrace the winds of change still rages in our hearts and minds. Some have embraced the opportunity, alas some have not.” Retta’s thoughts obviously flowed elsewhere, but after a few minutes, she looked up and smiled. “But that is another story, come take a drink of welcome,” she walked across to a wooden cabinet and opening both doors reached inside and retrieved three glasses and a tall bottle of some dark brown liquid which she poured into the three glasses, then taking one at a time she offered one to Amndo the other to Solvienne. “Come drink, to old alliances.” At this Retta put the glass to her lips and upturned the contents into her mouth in one.

  Solvienne sniffed the liquid, it smelt a lot like wine, so she followed Retta’s example, as did Amndo. The liquid felt hot as it flowed down her throat and into her stomach. Then it seemed to explode, she felt her stomach expand, a large lump forced its way back up her throat and she found herself belching noisily and long. She slapped her hand over her mouth in embarrassment. But Amndo did the same and Retta who seemed to be struggling to remain in control of her insides suddenly broke forth a long deep belch. She smiled and said, “another glass!”

  Both Solvienne and Amndo declined as best they could.

  Retta laughed out loud, it was an infectious sound and Solvienne and Amndo found they also laughed along with her. Their spirits rose all of a sudden, Solvienne felt much better for her mood had risen greatly since they first arrived in the presence of the ognod queen.

  Retta said, “another tradition of my people, the drinking of the ….” She thought for a while then continued saying, “I struggle to translate into the common tongue but I think the nearest translation would be ‘talking wine’. I have not tried to dissuade my people from this tradition, for many practice it as a common way to welcome honoured guests and it is harmless enough. So my friends I hope you have found ognod hospitality to your liking?”

  Solvienne shuddered as Amndo said, “well if you consider being carried here unceremoniously and then thrown into a deep prison cell filled with bones hospitality?”

  “Retta seemed annoyed, she said, “bah, I have asked the causeway guard and the master of the lower arena to show more leniency with visitors, especially those who are not of the ognod race. I have expressly asked them not to throw visitors into the arrival pens but to use a ladder. I will have them demoted for this.
”

  Solvienne seemed a little bemused by what Retta had just said, she wondered if she heard some form of sarcasm, but she smiled, “no Retta, please they did use a ladder, I assure you they did, but it was quite a surprise to have to spend our first night in that place with all the err, the remains of some of the previous guests?” She shuddered in remembrance of the experience.

  Retta sighed, “I have made many changes, asked and persuaded my people to adopt alternatives, but some ancient traditions can never be changed it seems.”

  Amndo spluttered, “it is a tradition of your hospitality to throw people into that pit?”

  Retta seemed a little hurt by his outburst, “why yes, but I concede that it is a tradition that centred on the only possible visitors being ognod visitors from other clans. It is our way, we used to throw visitors into the arrival pens, the visitors would expect it, they would do the same to any of us should we visit them.”

  “But the pit was full of bones?” Asked Solvienne.

  “Of course. Most would survive, but others, not many I might add, would die. Thus they would not have been worthy to visit our clan. However, I appreciate that this seems barbaric to you, I assure you that this is one of the traditions I am trying to change, especially as we now have visitors from other less, err, sturdy races. Hence my insistence on the use of the ladder.” She smiled proudly.

  Solvienne couldn’t decide if she thought this amusing or not, but then she thought of the terrifying noises behind the big wooden door at the base of the pit. She added, “there was something else, a creature of some kind, restrained behind another door in the wall of the pit, it sounded terrifying.”

  Retta frowned. “I must apologise again. It seems that it is not only tradition that is difficult to challenge and to change for my people, their sense of humour is also impossible to adapt to a softer approach.”

  “That creature was a joke?”

  “No, No, not at all. Well I mean yes, sort of. I mean, well some died in the pit, we send in the creature as you call it to clear up the remains, to keep the pit clean. I had asked the master of the lower arena to take the Drak Nuonis out into the mountains and set it free, but it seems the pit keeper would rather retain his pet.”

  Solvienne recognised that name, Drak Nuonis, where had she heard it before? Retta seemed to come to some conclusion, she sighed and continued, “please you must understand the ognods have come a long way, change is slow, our traditions may seem very alien to you, even as I said barbaric perhaps, but do not judge us too harshly. I work hard to try and make my people understand, but the road is long and arduous. Please don’t think they are being disrespectful if they play a small joke on visitors like yourselves.”

  Solvienne shook her head, she felt some discomfort at the form of humour exhibited by the ognods but she bit her tongue, partly to defuse her discomfort. “Why then doesn’t my mother Minervar tell of being thrown into the arrival pens in the stories she used to tell of her visit here?”

  Retta, looked surprised, then she spoke as if what she said was obvious, “because they were honoured guests of my father, their coming here was the fulfilment of an ancient prophecy, this prophecy specifically invited them here in person and as such they were honoured guests, not mere uninvited travellers.”

  Solvienne looked annoyed, “mere uninvited travellers? Then I’ll make sure that next time we are expected!”

  Retta looked a little hurt, but she said, “please, do not take offence. As I have already said, my people’s traditions are not as yours. For many ages it has been more likely that our enemies would visit us than those who would not seek us harm uninvited or not. The Drak Nuonis are freed into the pit to stop disease and decay, to keep the bones clean.”

  Then it came to Solvienne, Drak Nuonis, yes that was written on the old label on the outside of the large amphora in the secret room in Solin’s house in Amentura. She recalled the words upon the label ‘Weuk nue fordog. Dreniu forn a debbed Drak Nuonis’. She must have whispered the words out loud, for Retta looked at her questioningly as she said, “you know something of our ways then?”

  Solvienne shook her head, “no, I just saw a specimen; it was dead, part of a collection, a museum exhibit perhaps.”

  Retta explained, “they are originally creatures from another world, we domesticated them long ago, I had one when I was young, but they have all but died out now. Some say they came with us from another place, somewhere we once called home.” Retta smiled.  “Their numbers have reduced, they do not seem to take kindly to the environment here, it is far too easy and they have suffered a sickness of their spirit. We still have one though, he is a fine specimen, very affectionate, I visit him on occasion. But it seems the Drak Nuonis are not compatible with this world.” Retta frowned further, “like us it seems, misfits from another place, destined perhaps to be defeated by this world and perish, to be forgotten like a bad winter, terrible whilst here, but soon in its passing.” Then as if to shake herself from her dark thoughts she then said, “but enough of this talk. I fear you are here on more urgent matters, I would have you ask what you would of me and my people?”

  So Solvienne and Amndo made a joint effort of telling Retta everything of importance that had happened concerning Minervar’s disappearance and the fact that she seemed to be now allied with the T’Iea’Neat’Thegoran or at least had been. Then finally Solvienne’s asked for Retta’s help in any way possible to aid them in locating and finding Minervar.

  Retta nodded and thought for many minutes. “It seems to me that if you wish to make contact once again with Minervar, one of you, perhaps both, should enter the T’Iea’Neat’Thegoran realm and follow her.”

  Solvienne frowned, “but that would mean we may lose another to the T’Iea’Neat’Thegoran, either through death or through enchantment into their ranks. They have no Gatekeeper at the moment, my mother did not pass on that responsibility formally, at least I assume not. So anyone following Minervar via that route will be at great risk.”

  “Not necessarily,” said Retta. “Let me tell you what the ognod’s know, what is taught to our young.” She poured herself more of the ‘talking wine’ and offered another glass to each of her guests, both once more declined. She then sat on a chair and began. “Long ago the T’Iea became allied with the Pnook over the Rift. The T’Iea with their knowledge of the arcane, immediately understood the value of the Rift, initially they allied with the Pnook to investigate its power. I suspect through some perversion of character these T’Iea scholars became what was to be the T’Iea’Neat’Thegoran race and they wished to take the Rift for their own, recognising it to be the source of unlimited arcane energy. You may know that certain ognod clans held an alliance with the T’Iea’Neat’Thegoran in ages past. Historically this alliance was borne of the T’Iea’Neat’Thegoran need for an army, an army that could overthrow the Pnook. You see the T’Iea’Neat’Thegoran were clever, they first forged an alliance with the Pnook, they promised to aid them in their experimenting with the Rift. But all they really wanted was control of the Rift. Then one day a chance came, a twist of fate that would allow them to take over the Pnook realm and gain complete control of the Rift. The ognods had swarmed down from the north as you know. They had no plans to cross the Great Spine however; they were content in the spoils of conquest on the western side of the mountains. But the T’Iea’Neat’Thegoran managed to persuade the ognods over the mountains, they promised the ognod army riches beyond belief on the eastern side, the side where the Pnook resided in their city. The T’Iea’Neat’Thegoran hatched a plan. They persuaded the ognods to cross over the mountains, a simple journey for ognods to undertake for our physique evolved in such an environment. Once over the alliance between the ognods and the T’Iea’Neat’Thegoran was forged and the ognods attacked the Pnook who would have little defence against such a strong army. The Pnook were forced to leave their city and the T’Iea’Neat’Thegoran would be in control of the Rift and all this could come about without the slightest
blame being placed upon the T’Iea’Neat’Thegoran themselves. Once the last Pnook had fled into the east, the ognods destroyed the old Pnook city and took whatever spoils they wanted for this they were promised. The T’Iea’Neat’Thegoran waited until the ognods had gone and then they moved in. They built their own city there in the east right around the Rift. T’Iea’Neat’Thegoran society flourished, but the Rift took its toll upon them, they became a parody of true T’Iea culture. The rest I’m sure you know.”

  Retta broke the silence once more. “Now my friends, if Minervar is no longer there in the T’Iea’Neat’Thegoran realm then what you say may be true, they may no longer have a Gatekeeper. You said yourself they did not kill Minervar and made her their Gatekeeper in place of the one called Tezrin. If another were to follow Minervar they would probably be offered the position of gatekeeper in Minervar’s stead. However, I think there are more persuasive reasons for this to happen.”

  Solvienne again said, “what do you mean?”

  Retta replied, “wait. Let me explain. The Rift effects the T’Iea mind, perhaps your people are more susceptible than others, but never the less close contact with the Rift seems to change the psyche of the T’Iea, exert some control over them.”

  “But the T’Iea spend much time with arcane energy, it doesn’t effect us in such a way. Unless of course there is something else contained within the Rift. We have heard stories of a malevolent intelligence held within the Rift, maybe it is this that is using the arcane energy, perverting it in such a way as it can take over the minds of the T’Iea.”

  Retta nodded slowly. “That would certainly make a persuasive argument and explain much. But let me explain. The dark elf Gatekeeper is a role primarily concerned with transporting T’Iea’Neat’Thegoran forces to any location, both as armies and individuals. Because of this, the Gatekeeper holds a special privileged position within T’Iea’Neat’Thegoran society. Like many T’Iea societies the T’Iea’Neat’Thegoran do not necessarily have a leader, but rely upon the more experienced members for advice and guidance. Thus the Gatekeeper holds a respected and senior position. But I believe the gatekeeper doesn’t necessarily have to be of the T’Iea race. Traditionally the gatekeeper is T’Iea because the T’Iea’Neat’Thegoran are of that race, for T’Iea are easily trained in the arcane arts. But even an ognod could become Gatekeeper, but we as a race have a limited talent for the arcane thus I did not believe even with the help of the power of the Rift that an ognod would be wholly a successful gatekeeper.” She then turned to Amndo, “but a keeper on the other hand, your race is very open to arcane forces and you are already experts on the sciences of void portals. The T’Iea’Neat’Thegoran would fall over themselves to have a Gatekeeper who is a keeper. The possibilities would be endless.”

  Solvienne again went to disagree, but Retta held up her hand, she was still looking at Amndo.

  “But there is something else about the race of keepers,” she continued to stare at Amndo, ”unlike the T’Iea they are very resilient to subjugation by arcane energy.” She thought for a while then continued. “It may be master keeper that you might visit the T’Iea’Neat’Thegoran through the Gatekeeper’s portal and become their Gatekeeper, but your resistance to the Rift which they will undoubtedly subject you to could prove to be in your favour.”

  Amndo thought for a while, he understood what Retta was suggesting, however he was naturally reticent about exposing himself to the potential dangers involved. The Rift and whatever it played host to, was a strong source of arcane energy, of that he was in no doubt for he had met with that power once before. But could he guarantee he would be better prepared next time. The Rift behaved like an abnormally large portal in reality. The T’Iea’Neat’Thegoran had placed the enormous portal stone above the Rift. This stone channelled the raw energy below it. Channelled it to a multitude of uses. All the individual user had to understand was how to control it, he knew now having grappled with the Rift’s energy once before. That brief encounter had taught him much of the Rifts nature. The Gatekeeper was really just a powerful mage who understood the portal capabilities of the large keystone above the Rift. He conceded that the Gatekeeper could also use the power in other ways, in more offensive ways, but that after all was the nature of that raw power. It was just energy that could be converted into other forms, as long as the wielder of that energy knew what they were doing. So, if he could convince the T’Iea’Neat’Thegoran his intentions were in line with theirs and they accepted him, he could perhaps resist the Rift’s mind changing effects and still pose as the new Gatekeeper. He would then be in a unique position to be able to study the Rift’s nature and possibly learn its full portal capability. He would then know if it could grant him access to wherever it was that Minervar and Deanola now found themselves.

  He decided he had to try, it was possibly the only way to find Minervar and he said so. So it was decided. Amndo would port himself into Amentura using his personal portal, go to Solin’s house and find the Gatekeepers portal into the T’Iea’Neat’Thegoran realm and would take it from there.

  Then Solvienne spoke, “if Amndo can get access to wherever Minervar went to in this way, what about me? I could not go with Amndo that would cause great suspicion in the minds of the T’Iea’Neat’Thegoran.”

  Retta replied, “that is true, but the Gatekeepers portal may not be the only way, there is another way perhaps to access the Rift. I do not know for sure, but I have long suspected that there is another, smaller way into the Rift, a back door if you like. I came across it once long ago after Minervar and Serinae and their companions where here. I did not know what it was, none of the ognods did.” She turned to Amndo and asked, “describe to me master Amndo what the Rift physically looks like?” 

  Amndo did so and when he was finished Retta continued. “From your descriptions Amndo I think that what I saw all that time ago, is something very similar.”

  Solvienne became very excited. This may be the sort of thing they searched for. “What was this you saw?” She asked.

  “Well after I gained the throne of my father I decided to travel the ognod world. I thought I may be able to unite my people and start them in a new direction. I was travelling in the northern mountains when I came across an ancient ognod temple. It seemed uninhabited, for unfortunately as my race dwindled, many came to live in the larger centres of habitat, most if not all of the outlying temples and smaller villages became abandoned and left to fall into ruin. That was one of the reasons why I went to look for these places and find out what they still held that might help us find answers to our predicament, aid our recovery. Well in this particular temple, there was a pool it lay within the inner sanctum, surrounded by walls and gates that probably should have been shut and locked. Many of our temples have fallen into ruin, over the years raiders have successively ransacked these places and removed anything of use. Strangely though this temple remained in good condition, where many had been defaced or even destroyed, this particular one had survived mostly intact. It was as if the raiders were afraid of it somehow, or even revered it. Anyway this pool, it was circular and quite small about five or six paces across at its widest point. But no water lay within, what lay within was a similar substance to that you describe Amndo, the Rift substance that you witnessed beneath the arched bridge in the T’Iea’Neat’Thegoran realm. When I returned I enquired amongst my people what this place may be. An old monk claimed he came from the area, he told me that this pool was the entrance to paradise, a doorway to the halls of the Maker. The way was open to any that so wished to go there if they had the free will. But they would not perhaps be able to return.”

  Solvienne became excited, “Serinae spoke of the possibility of other entrances into the Rift. Could it be that we may have found one?”

  “It may be,” responded Amndo. “A secret entrance that certain of the elder races could use to access other places. It is perhaps as I suspected, there really are other Rift vents existing across the world. The Rift energy is
arcane energy in its raw state. It is derived from the gravitational energy of the world in which we live. That gravitational energy flows through the world and for the most part remains stable. However if another large mass passes close enough to the world that gravitational energy maybe be distorted. If the distortion is sufficiently large then the Rift could be affected to. But the humans distorted the gravitational energy in a similar manner many years ago, they channelled it for their own use and the Rift was created. They then continuously tapped into the Rifts energy in increasingly larger and larger ways this could make the Rift unstable, become out of balance. Such instability could feed back into the gravitational forces of the world in such a way as to start to have an effect upon the positioning of the world. I believe this is what the ancient fathers machine was designed to do in part, ensure that the correct balance was maintained at all times. Long ago however with the right knowledge others could have created other Rift outlets into the machine hall and perhaps beyond. A convenient short cut perhaps. This may be what you found Retta, high in the mountains, hidden from the world and probably guarded closely by the ognods.”

  Retta nodded but she looked sceptical. “You may be correct master keeper, but I’m afraid as I alluded to earlier, I believe there is another reason. The monk was right, the Book of Truths hints at a way to access paradise, for those who keep the faith may be rewarded. My father taught me much on this subject.” Here Retta stood silent for a few moments. “I may speak blasphemy, but I believe that the Book of Truths is not just the basis for religious belief, I believe it is also something more. I believe it is the handbook, an instruction book if you like from the ancient father’s.” Retta retrieved a lamp from the wall opposite and held it up so that one of the ancient wall hangings could be seen. Solvienne and Amndo stepped forward. There was depicted a city, not dissimilar to the one they now found themselves in. They could see the fields surrounding the place, the high stockade wall and the buildings within. There sitting high on top of the hill in the centre stood a large building. Above this city lay a massive picture of something unknown, it dwarfed the city beneath. Solvienne could see it had a sun or a star depicted within it shining forth, casting light over everything below. Beneath the city was a circular disk inside of which abstract silvery shapes could be seen. At the bottom of the wall hanging a number of other smaller pictures were painted. A golden tree, a double-headed war axe and a strange square object she recognised from the various descriptions of the Biplextor devices the Pnook use. There was also another picture of a pyramid like structure and yet another that depicted the two twins of which the ognods speak, Grouund and Gruoond they are called and here they sat in the typical pose depicted in many places throughout the ognod lands, they were seated facing each other their knees drawn up under their chins and their clawed fingers resting atop their knees. The last picture showed a strange representation. There was a six pointed star and in the centre of this star was a face, it looked upwards as if it gazed at the heavens, the hands either side framing this face with palms upwards.  All of these separate little artworks were joined by a line stitched in golden thread; it looked like some kind of roadway, for figures of beings were depicted walking along these interconnecting roads.

  Solvienne was about to ask Retta to explain the paintings but before she could do so Retta spoke.

  “Long ago the elder races came into the world from within the ancient father’s great ship of the stars, we came here to help build the great machine,” she pointed to the tapestry to the disk with the silvery shapes set within it. “Each race lived in a place that emulated their home world, the place where they came from.” She pointed once more at the tapestry but this time towards the smaller pictures with tree and axe and other things showing. “This was necessary for two reasons. Firstly the world was in such a poisonous and polluted state it would have been dangerous to live upon it. Secondly the elder races did not want to influence the then remaining population of the race of men. The ancient fathers created links between these living quarters of the elder races and the machine room. I believe it was the intent of the ancient fathers to leave the workers of the machine here, for it would take many years to construct the machine. They would then return at a later date to collect the workers once more. But for some reason they never returned and the workers, the elder races were marooned. Well the machine was built as you know. The elder races waited and waited in their living quarters, but gradually they decided to enter into the world. The world recovered slowly with the help of the ancient father’s machine until it became much as we see it today. I believe that then, for whatever reasons, the elder races slowly abandoned their places of refuge and came into the world itself to live.”

  Before she could continue Solvienne said excitedly, so the pool you found was the route that the ognods took to gain access into the world from their home quarters in the voids!”

  “Perhaps so T’Iea one, yes, but to prove it we would have to enter into the Rift. So then this may be your answer, this pathway may grant you access to where Minervar is now.”

  “Yes Retta it is a possibility, however there is no guarantee. The Rift within your temple is more likely to take whoever enters into the quarters as you call them, of the ognods is it not? ” Said Amndo.

  “Perhaps master keeper, yes. But the same Rift I suspect is where Minervar disappeared. The Rift in the Temple may take whoever enters it to the ognod’s place, but the Book of Truths suggests each races home was accessible, there is no mention of exclusivity, the Rift may give the chance of access to many such places.” She pointed at the smaller depictions all joined by the golden thread, the interconnecting road on which beings travelled. “It may give someone a chance to access the same path that Minervar took. It may give the choice.”

  Solvienne pointed at the large object at the very top, “so what is that?”

  Retta thought for a while, “I don’t know exactly. Traditionally the ognods believe it to be heaven, or paradise. But I am not so sure. Our stories tell of our arrival here in a great ship of the voids, the ancient father’s great Star Ship, so large that it blotted out the sun whilst it hung in the sky. I think this is what is shown here.”

  There was silence for a while until Amndo said, “there is not guarantee that the Rift will lead where you say though. But if I could gain access to the main Rift in the T’Iea’Neat’Thegoran realm, I could try and find out if this second access point is linked. If it is, I could easily send you a sign confirming this link. As long as you stood in close proximity to see my signal that is. ”

  Solvienne asked, “is that possible Amndo?”

  “Perhaps, yes. I would need to go there, to the main Rift vent and try and figure out what the configurations may be. I could use the large keystone that sits above the Rift vent. I have already connected with it once.”

  “Yes, and almost died.” Said Solvienne.

  “Ah, but that was as an enemy, if I were to be a friend, if I were the Gatekeeper, then possibly the Rift may accept me differently.”

  Retta smiled at Amndo and then asked, “how are your acting skills master keeper?”

  Amndo shrugged. “There is a first time for everything! I will go to Amentura and see what may be done. The Maker willing, I will be able to take the same route to the T’Iea’Neat’Thegoran realm as did Minervar, through the portal in the Lady Solin’s house.”

  Retta nodded, “then I will guide Solvienne to this temple, it is but a few weeks walk from here, a few weeks for an ognod at least, so perhaps twice that for a being of a smaller race. Anyway I can take her there and we could await your signal. If it comes, then Solvienne could enter into the Rift and join you there. If your sign does not come then she can return with me here and we can decided what may be done as an alternative?”

  Amndo thought for a while then said, ”I agree, travel there to this place within the temple and await my sign. I will make it as obvious as possible.” He then seemed to come to a decision and said, “Retta, ma
y I take one of your key stones to use in the link to Amentura?”

  Retta nodded. She picked up the tray from the table and offered it forward to Amndo. “Make your choice master keeper.” 

  Amndo was reticent to grasp any of the keystones at first, he seemed to scrutinise them all carefully, so Retta said, “it’s alright they are none of them charged, at least not yet, I dabble with them, but as I said the ognod’s are not skilled in the use of the stones or in the use of the arcane in general, I have tried with little success. Please take any, they are safe.”

  Amndo grasped one and held it in his palm. He concentrated on the gravitational signature that he knew existed in Amentura, in fact a particular place in Amentura within the basement of a small house that he had purchased many years before. When he had the signature right, he transferred the information into the keystone as he had done many times before. He did not however replicate multiple copies into the keystone, neither did he put the gravitational signature of the ognod’s city after the one of Amentura. This would mean that the keystone could only be used one way and could not be used to return unless the appropriate signature where transferred into the stone.

  This done he gently placed the key stone onto the table. He looked at Solvienne, “you will be alright my lady?”

  “Of course Amndo, I am in good hands here.”

  He then nodded towards Retta who smiled. “The Maker be with you, let us hope that this plan works for much relies upon it. Till we meet once again.” Amndo bowed to both women, he moved his hand forward and grasped the stone. He felt the pull of the portal transition. He then disappeared from Retta’s room and Retta and Solvienne where left alone.