“Aye, Jaegar. Give the order.” King Pallan remained studying the bridge.
“Regiment, halt!” Jaegar gestured for Jardarah to come to him.
Conrad bent down to pet Percival, who wagged his tail happily.
“Sir, why have we come to a halt?” Jardarah caught his breath again as he came before Jaegar.
Jaegar motioned with a dip of his head to the rocky overpass. “That bridge. The sire and I desire to explore it. The dog seems to be guiding us to it.”
Jardarah looked over his shoulder and back at Jaegar. “Yes, I saw as well. We heard Conrad mumble to himself that Percival intended to cross it.”
Jaegar scanned the gorge walls for several moments. “Curious … there appears to be a walkway in the cliff walls at the same height of that bridge.”
Jardarah swung around and scrutinized the gorge wall. “Aye; there does appear to be a walkway or path hewn in the wall.”
Jaegar came closer to Jardarah and shifted his eyes from the gully’s steep wall to his assistant. “Strange that we did not notice it before.”
With his dark-blue eyes, Jardarah traced the rocky walkway to the stone bridge. “Unlikely, sir, that it is part of the forest.”
“In what way?” Jaegar rescanned the pathway warily.
“In that it was probably made by someone.”
Jaegar challenged him. “Do you know of any villages—or settlements—within this vicinity of the woods?”
Jardarah shook his head a tad. “No, sir; I do not. This area of the woods is thoroughly unknown to me.”
Jaegar muttered, “What I thought.”
King Pallan continued to remark the stone bridge with suspicion.
“Sire, shall we attempt to pass over it?” Jaegar waited for his king’s answer.
King Pallan acted as if he did not hear him; he began to run his eyes down the (in places extremely) narrow footpath in the gully walls.
Jaegar asked more loudly, rocking in place a bit from the strain of raising his voice. “Sire, shall we attempt to cross over the stone bridge?”
King Pallan responded moments later. “I heard you the first time, Jaegar. We shall attempt to cross it if the dog indicates, truly, to do so.”
Jaegar and Jardarah approached him. King Pallan twisted in place to watch them draw near.
“My Lord, scaling the walls to reach the pathway may prove untrivial.”
King Pallan inhaled slowly. “Yes, I saw that.”
Jardarah added somewhat anxiously, “And there is the risk, sire, by travelling so tight a pathway, if we should encounter an enemy, we could be cut off; surrounded on either side.”
“Trapped.” Jaegar came close to King Pallan who glanced at him; his worry seemed to grow.
Their king did not answer for several long moments; King Pallan continued his examination of the uneven ledge-like path with reserved intensity. “Yes, I thought about that as well—that we could be hemmed in.”
Jardarah inquired, “Sire—how will we get to that footpath from here? There doesn’t seem to be any way of getting to—”
King Pallan pointed straight at a collection of boulders as he leaned toward Jardarah. “There.”
Jaegar took a step or two forward to peer at the mass of rocks. “They approach to within a few feet of the path—there.” He pointed.
Jardarah, tilting his head side to side while squinting, remarked after a brief period, “Yes, I can see now. But the women and children—how will they be able to mount the boulders?”
“And the soldiers, with all their armour …” Jaegar turned to his king, who only slowly turned his gaze from the narrow pathway to his lead soldier.
“A good question. If you look beyond the bridge, toward those rapids, the area appears quite impassable.”
Jaegar and Jardarah at once peered past the bridge.
Conrad came tripping over to them. “Laddies, laddies!” He held a rudimentary map in his hand.
King Pallan replied, “What is it, Conrad?”
“Laddie—my map indicates that that bridge is a shortcut.”
King Pallan lowered his brow. “To the grasslands?”
Conrad shot back, “Aye! Percival is right to follow that bridge.”
King Pallan, appearing irritated, asked, “Where have you gotten that map? Hitherto you have not mentioned having such a map.”
Conrad, a bit winded and still holding the map, flung his arm at the gully wall. “That path, in the gorge wall, leads to the bridge. And the bridge crosses to the other side, to another path that will lead us past large boulders at the end of this section of the gorge.”
King Pallan sighed rather softly. “And may I ask where you have gotten this map? Can it be trusted?”
Conrad, quite animated, confirmed loudly, “Oh, it is quite accurate; made it myself. Percival and I have been here before—that is why I know of the place—scribbled the map.”
King Pallan bobbed his head for a few short moments. “Then, how does one reach said path from ground level, other than by the mass of boulders there?”
Conrad noted strongly, “Oh, quite impossible. The only way—those boulders—unless you want to go back down the gorge for several miles and enter the footpath at its start.”
King Pallan grumbled. “And, who made this path?”
Conrad shook his head. “Not an idea; none whatsoever. Percival knows the way. He knows it.”
Jaegar commented to his king, “Our first real challenge.”
King Pallan replied to Jaegar in a hushed tone, “Surely, the first of many …”
Painstakingly, the Paladians scaled the boulders to reach the stone footpath-like ledge in the gorge wall. The process was steeped in risks. A set of volunteer soldiers was sent to scale the boulders first, taking their armour off before attempting the hazardous climb. After some time, they reached the stone pathway and then anchored cords into the rock so that the rocky ledge could be reached from the apex of the pile of boulders. The distance between the highest boulder and the stone path was only about seven feet. After this was done, a new set of soldiers went up the rocks, this time with most of their armour on, as the path to reach the head rock had been shown by the first group of soldiers. Removing more of the weight of the metal encasing them, the new group of warriors then climbed the ropes and made it to the ledge that led to the stone bridge. Next came the women and children. A soldier largely stripped of armour assisted each noncombatant the whole way. Many of the children were very frightened—nay, even many of the soldiers—by the randomly angled stone faces and the sheer height of the rocks. There was a low, continuous groaning and trembling and the occasional slip and scream. After the children were taken up, and after their mothers and maids, the main component of the regiment ascended the boulders, toting the group’s supplies, some having to nearly strip themselves of their armour to make the climb. Soldiers on the ledge were fed the breastplates and thigh shields of those aspiring to reach the rock projection, along with the column’s supplies. Those on the ledge would spread out very gingerly to make room for their brethren coming up (it was decided beforehand that they should remain as a group). This took several hours. Finally, the Rear Vanguard, along with Jaegar, Jardarah, and King Pallan, attempted to surmount the rock pile.
“I shall be last. Go.”
Jaegar disputed, “Sire—you must go. We will assist you in the climb; you must not be last.”
King Pallan grinned warmly at Jaegar. “Go, my friend; you and Jardarah. I will be fine.”
Jaegar formed a look of protest and turned to observe, briefly, the Rear Vanguard (composed of three exceedingly well-built men) make their way briskly up the rock mass. Sighing, he reluctantly began to scale the rocks.
King Pallan tapped Jardarah on the shoulder. “You’re next.”
Jardarah, glancing anxiously at Jaegar clambering up the piled boulders and at his king, shortly submitted to the order. “Aye, My Lord.”
King Pallan watched his last two men go up the stone
mountain; he was standing at the base of it, craning his neck upward.
Fifteen minutes afterward, Jardarah had reached the scaling cords at the top boulder. Giving a look backward, he shouted to King Pallan to come up; others had been calling to the king to start the climb, but he either did not hear them clearly or refused simply to give in to their entreaties.
Watching Jardarah scale the last few feet of the rope, King Pallan gave a quick wave to his people on the ledge and began to climb the amassed boulder obstacle. His climb went well for the first half of the ascent. For the other half, he appeared to waver near the end, as if he were experiencing flashbacks or suppressing a panic, or an anguish.
“Come on, sire! You are nearly there!” Jaegar yelled.
Others joined in. “You can make it, sire! You are very close.”
King Pallan closed his eyes; his hands were shaking. Surmounting very gradually the penultimate rock, he then fell onto the last and shook his head vigorously.
Jaegar insisted more fervently, “You are nearly at the ledge, My Lord! Just a bit more; a few scales of the cord and you will be with us on the path.”
King Pallan, seemingly dazed, shook his head angrily, muttering something to himself. With eyes shut, making two firm fists, he then opened his eyes by slow degrees and took hold of the cord. In a short time, he scaled the last leg of the climb to the stone passageway.
“My Lord, we nearly thought you weren’t going to make it.” Jaegar took hold of his hand and drew him up.
King Pallan, appearing ashamed, mumbled a thank you. After taking a breath or two, he turned to look at the stream far below. Exhaling loudly, in one quick breath of evident frustration, he faced Jaegar and Jardarah.
“Sire, the scaling in its entirety has taken almost the rest of the day. It will be dark soon. Are you all right, sire? At times, you appeared to struggle valiantly on the climb.”
King Pallan answered brusquely, “Then, let us not tarry on this ledge; I am fine, Jaegar.” He scooted past them.
Jaegar watched him with an inspecting eye.
Jardarah asked softly, “Do you think he is all right?” Jaegar offered no reply.
King Pallan gingerly made his way closer to the front of the group, those he passed still clinging to the gulley’s wall. He made a half turn back and said in a raised voice, “We are all afraid. The height is great—but we must continue. Night will fall soon, and it is best we make it over the bridge and onto the other stone ledge before it comes. The climb took longer than expected. Let us go.”
The general order was relayed down the column. Some of the women shielded their children’s faces to prevent them from becoming too afraid. More than one soldier had to look up occasionally to steady themselves—to not panic from the dizzying elevation.
The expeditionaries headed very cautiously for the stone overpass over the stream. The sun began to slide farther down the sky, to the east, signalling the end of another day. King Pallan, becoming concerned over the group’s slow progress, began to spur them on with shouts. The column of soldiers and civilians made it to the entrance of the bridge as the sun was toying with dipping beneath the treetops.
“Come on! Hurry!” King Pallan gestured strongly for his people to pass quickly over the bridge after a few soldiers had inspected it to make sure it was strong enough to support the weight of the travellers and their supplies. As a precaution, to reduce the load on the stone bridge of unknown origin, only a few people at a time were sent across the stone overpass.
The group pushed on, forming a single file on the other side of the gully, heading for what appeared to be a gentle incline.
“The last of our people have made it over.”
King Pallan glanced back apprehensively at the ledge that led up to the bridge. “Good, Jaegar; let us cross the bridge at once.”
A soldier called quite loudly to King Pallan from the front of the group, who were inching their way down the newly unexplored ledge. “Sire—the pathway—it rises. It appears to lead back to the forest …”
King Pallan shouted back, “Good. Head for it. The light is growing low.”
The soldier yelled in return, “At once, sire.”
King Pallan gave Jaegar a gentle push as he glanced in several directions. “Let us get over this bridge; we need to reenter the forest before the sun sets. I do not care to be on that ledge in the dark.”
Jaegar moved forward, swiftly. “Aye, sire; nor do I.”
King Pallan ushered Jardarah up the stone archway a moment. “You, too, Jardarah; head for that ledge.”
Jardarah answered at once, “Yes, sire; immediately.”
King Pallan made one last survey of the area behind them. Crouching slightly, he took short, rapid steps across the overpass, which gave manifest signs of manufacture. Whose manufacture, it was not known. Within a minute, he came to the end of the bridge and took up a position behind the Rear Vanguard.
The soldier who had called to King Pallan regarding the rise in the rock pathway made a cautious cry to the expedition’s leader once more. “Sire—we are nearly at the end of the path. It indeed leads back to the forest.”
King Pallan replied with muted excitement in his voice, “Good—make for it at once.”
The soldier kept inching toward the end of the pathway, the group trailing him closely.
As the sun began to dip below the horizon, the forest was illuminated by a dying violet, pink, and yellow, the colours seeming to diffuse into a mist.
The Paladian refugees made it eventually back into the forest as the cover of darkness began to fall. Lighting torches, they headed for the protection of large trees in a small clearing a short distance away.
“Sire, Conrad is quite exhausted, as are others. We must stop and rest.”
King Pallan answered, revealing slight disappointment, “Aye, Jardarah. Inform Jaegar that we are stopping. We will have to set up camp here.”
“Yes, My Lord. Conrad indicated that it is but a day from here to the grasslands.”
“Good; pray we do not encounter any ogres. They are rumoured to roam these woods …”
“Yes, My Lord.” Jardarah grinned faintly. “We’ll be ready for them, sire.”
King Pallan made a forced grin. “Now go.”
Jardarah lightly struck his armour in the chest with his fist. “Yes, My Lord; straightaway.”
The journey to the clearing took only a few minutes. Much of the delay to reach it stemmed from the dense overgrowth of the forest, which was awakening anew to the night. Various types of glowing insects could be seen crawling up and down trees, zipping across tiny sections of open woodland. The forest was alive with sounds; some comforting, others unsettling. As the assemblage of civilians and warriors came near the clearing, a child cried out suddenly, “Mummy—look. A gilgel.”
The boy’s mum swivelled her head in the direction of her child’s excitement. She made a low gasp.
Others took notice, too. “Oh—look—a gilgel!”
King Pallan turned toward the commotion. “What?”
Soon, the column halted completely to watch a fairy-like creature, perhaps no more than twenty inches in height, dart between bushes and hover, briefly, over ferns, the being’s luminosity casting semi-brilliance over everything it came near.
The being at first seemed not to notice the large assembly of gawkers; then, for a few dazzling moments, it hovered in direct view of all, over a tanenberry bush.
Many of the children in the group exclaimed, “Look, it is hovering!”
Jaegar said to King Pallan softly, “Sire, that is a good sign; some say seeing a gilgel before a long journey is a sign of good fortune.”
King Pallan remained staring at the luminous creature.
The gilgel (roughly interpreted to mean luminous flitting being in Paladian) abruptly shot off, leaving a faint, glowing trail of golden light. The being disappeared into the forest.
After a brief period of collective silence, some of the travellers began wonderin
g out loud where the gilgel had gone to.
King Pallan came out of his trance. “The creature has gone; let us set up camp. We are all tired and hungry.” He gestured for Jardarah to come to him.
“Yes, My Lord?”
“Set the first watch; have the hunters look for food. We are nearly out of provisions.”
“Yes, My Lord; I shall relay your command to them.” Jardarah made a hasty bow and sped off.
King Pallan asked, “Where is Conrad?”
Jaegar, smiling rather gradually, pointed over at a tree. The elderly knight was fast asleep, with his back to a tall tree; Percival was nearby, chewing gingerly on a fynycht bush (a shrub producing leaves with a peppermint-like taste).
The Paladian king chuckled to himself and walked off. “Let him be. He has earned his rest …”
VI
The camp awakened early the next day. The morning patrol was sent out, the evening one relieved. Smoke from fires wafted upward; the sound of utensils scraping metal plates, revealing hungry travellers eager for nourishment, tinged throughout the group. King Pallan walked moodily through the camp. His demeanour was less than amiable.
“Sire, the hunters brought little from their hunts. The fauna are a tricky lot in this part of the woods.”
King Pallan dismissed the soldier with a lazy wave of his hand. “Begone.”
The soldier snapped to attention. “Yes, My lord.” He headed off for a group of soldiers, squatting, sharpening some spears.
Jaegar approached cautiously. “My Lord, the scribes insist we leave at once for the grasslands. What is your order?”
King Pallan, with his back to Jaegar, hands behind his back, resumed his meander through the campsite.
Jaegar trailed him slowly. “Sire, we ought to heed what they say. Tarrying here will not bring about what we seek … help us to get to Kae’lem.”
King Pallan responded after a short interval, “And what will we find, Jaegar, at Kae’lem? The solution to my troubles?” He turned to Jaegar. “The restoration of my kingdom?”
The early morning light stretched through the forest, the rising mist providing a lighted backdrop to the late-middle-aged soldier, the king’s head warrior, now. “Perhaps … maybe not. But you must agree, My Lord, that by remaining here, we will accomplish nothing.”
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