Chronicles of Galadria III - Lessons

by David Gay-Perret

  “On the other hand, if ever your doubt grows too strong, or your responsibilities too heavy, of if you feel that you can no longer stand beneath the hopes placed on you, you always have the choice of fleeing. The decisions that you make are yours, and yours alone. At the end of the day, what will be will be, and you can only make the best decision you can from the circumstances you find yourself in. No one can fault you for that.”

  “No,” murmured Glaide. “I cannot flee. Whatever the cost, I have to face my responsibilities, even if I did not choose them.”

  “Even though you already fled from your friends?”

  The young man didn’t respond. He simply looked his master in the eye. So many things were jumbling around in his head. He had left, yes, but it was because his heart had told him to. Or had it been his mind? He didn’t know. However, he was sure of one thing: he had learned to fight, and had had some amazing encounters purely because he had left. Even if it looked like he was fleeing, wasn’t it justified in the end?

  “Yes, master, I left my friends; that’s true. But when I look back at everything that came about because of that, I can honestly say that I have no regrets.”

  “So that means, then, that you made the right choice. Fleeing was the right decision. If things had not gone the way they did, perhaps you would have regretted what you did, but it is difficult to know before you try. What matters is what happened in the end: our path crossed because of that decision. Fleeing can let you escape disaster, or it can create disaster. And isn’t it the same with our values? In the end, our values are neither good nor bad on their own. They exist, and we follow them, and that is all. Some conform to morality and some don’t, but in the end it doesn’t matter, because they are there, and they are what let life exist.”

  The two sat in silence for a moment, staring into nothing. Finally, it was Glaide who, in an almost inaudible voice, ended the conversation.

  “My strength and power mean nothing, and the only thing that matters is who I am. My actions should conform to what I think is important, and at the moment, that means helping others. I don’t know exactly what that will look like, but I will find a way, and I will continue in it. I’ve already accomplished some things, and I will continue to live my life as I have for the time being. I love this new life of mine, and I love making my own decisions.”

  With that, he wrapped his cape around himself, and lay down to sleep. The flickering light of the fire continued to illuminate his face, alongside that of his master, who had his gaze fixed on the stars.

  Chapter 3

  GLAIDE spent the next day trying to extract as much information as possible from Kezthrem about Ojilon. He learned that Kezthrem had only travelled there two or three times, and that the village had actually been constructed fairly recently. The construction took advantage of a natural defensive wall. The man hadn’t wanted to explain exactly what that meant, but had added that the phenomenon attracted many curious travelers, who wished to see the unique sight. The adolescent was impatient to know more, and examined the map carefully, hoping to discover something on his own. Around Ojilon, four mountain peaks were drawn, and the map depicted them in a strange way: each mountain seemed to be separated from the next, rather than forming a ring. Glaide wasn’t sure if it was just a quirk from the artist, or if it depicted reality.

  He found his answer at the end of the day. Before him, he saw the famous mountains, and his master explained that that was where Ojilon could be found. The map had not exaggerated. The two voyagers found themselves looking at four small mountain peaks, separated from each other by four narrow roads which pointed in the cardinal directions.

  The master and his disciple entered by the southern entrance. The dying rays of the sun caused great shadows, so that they found themselves in almost perfect darkness as they traveled through the narrow pass, at the end of which they found a well-guarded gate which led into a valley. At the center of the valley stood Ojilon. From their position, just near the entrance, the two voyagers had an unobstructed view of their surroundings. They could easily make out the three other doors protecting the only three other routes giving access to the city.

  The city itself was of a rather imposing size. Glaide judged the city to be bigger than Yzur, Rackk, or even Adrish. However, Glaide’s gaze was attracted by the strange arrangement of the streets and houses. They seemed to form a great line, rather than the usual square or circular arrangement. The young man quickly understood the reason for that: with the four great mountains encircling it, Ojilon had limited sunlight. The light only filtered in via the four mountain passes, except for a few hours around midday, when the sun was at its highest and could illuminate the entire valley. So, in the morning, the light from the east, and in the afternoon, that from the west, washed in through the canyon to light up a single line of space. There was one main road along this line, which then connected to smaller roads above and below it which, at this time of the day, were already becoming lost in the gloom.

  Glaide found the place magnificent, though he doubted that he could live there throughout the year. The surrounding mountains, tall and vast, and the shadows that they never ceased to cast had a depressing air to them. At the same time, though, he understood perfectly why they were described as a natural wall.

  The two descended into the actual village via the narrow path before them. By that time, the sun was so low that only the main road, which was nearly empty at the late hour, was still lit. The adolescent found that walking down this lane, with the sun at his back, lengthening his shadow disproportionately, cast a magic feel on the place. He didn’t have the freedom to enjoy it, though, as Kezthrem rapidly located the inn and led his disciple inside. Glaide noted that everything had been done to maximize the use of daylight there. The establishment was pierced all around by numerous windows, which filled the room with the flamboyant colors of the setting sun.

  The two travelers ate quickly in the midst of the other diners. While they ate, the sun finished setting, and the innkeeper lit candles to cut through the darkness of the night that was now beginning to envelope the place. When they were finished, the master and his disciple climbed the stairs to their room. The young man took a moment to look out the window, noticing that the mountains were no more than murky shadows against the dark night sky. Dark shadows, imposing, proud, and protective. Then, he closed the shutters and went to bed.

  Before he opened his eyes the next morning, Glaide took a moment to remember where he was, and what he was doing there. He realized that his master had already left the room. Before following suit, he yawned and stretched for a moment, already missing the bed. Then, he decided to head down to the common room of the inn. It was already late morning, and he found the room filled with regulars who had come to discuss this and that.

  Not seeing Kezthrem, the adolescent decided to go out and sightsee a bit. At any rate, the man’s things were still in the room, so he couldn’t be planning on leaving too soon. Glaide watched the activity that surrounded him for a moment. Merchants were selling their wares in stands all along the wide road, and many carts came and went, bringing more stock to the vendors. There were also a few soldiers calmly making their rounds, and waving to the people who passed by. The young man took in a deep breath of fresh air, then began his walk. He had no particular goal, and assumed that he would eventually come across his master, and ask what the plan for the day was.

  At that hour of the day, the sun was nearly at its highest, and, as the adolescent had supposed, the entire city was illuminated. But that wouldn’t last, and in a few hours, the shadows of the mountains would already begin growing again.

  The peaks themselves were beautiful. Unlike the peaks of Fyth or Oclin-Fer, these mountains were covered in a blanket of trees, hiding the naked rock. The mixture of colors was charming, and the boy thought to himself that if autumn were ever to arrive, and if the trees were to finally change colors, this place would be truly spectacular. For the moment, he took advantage of the be
auty of the view, all while contemplating where Kezthrem could have gone.

  Noon arrived, and Glaide still had not come across him. He decided to wait a little while before eating, and in the meantime, he decided to look for some new clothes. Among the many shops, he found one that pleased him. The clothing there was simple, but of good quality. He decided to pick out something a bit lighter than what he was wearing, and better suited to city life than traveling. He bought a shirt made of green fabric, and a new pair of pants, this time in a dark red color. Perhaps one day he’d need some dressier clothing, but for the moment, these things would do fine. He returned to the inn to change, and then, as he had in Adrish, he left his dirty clothing off at a laundry. It was only when he returned again to the inn to eat that he finally found Kezthrem.

  “Master,” he exclaimed, “where were you? I didn’t see you once, all morning!”

  “I’ve just come from purchasing our provisions for the rest of the journey. And I see that you didn't waste your time... New clothes?”

  “And I left my others at the laundry. When do we leave?”

  “Tomorrow morning. We’ll only have four or five more days of traveling before we reach our destination.”

  “Excellent,” the young man replied enthusiastically.

  “Let us just hope that the days to come are as calm as the previous ten,” murmured the man, his face somber.

  The two ate with hearty appetites, then Kezthrem and his disciple took some time to wander through the smaller streets that surrounded the main road. In just a few more hours, they would again be filled with darkness, and the two wanted to take advantage of the current light. Glaide noticed a number of different armories, each more exciting than the last. However, his guide didn’t stop at any of them, instead introducing him to a few merchants he knew who, for the most part, seemed to deal in secondhand goods. The young man looked at their merchandise with interest, because they seemed to have a bit of everything. Among the usual odds and ends, he noticed a few objects that looked more valuable. He noticed a map of an area that he didn’t recognize (perhaps somewhere outside of the Known Lands?), a few blades—though without any spaces for eorens—all sorts of jewelry with mysterious characteristics, statues from another age, and ancient documents that seemed quite authentic. The visit was terribly interesting, and the adolescent had to hold himself back from buying anything. So many things looked so tempting! But he knew that he would have no use for them, and that they would rapidly become cumbersome. And besides, he could always come back.

  Their tour ended in front of a statue that was situated at the base of the hill leading to the northern door, which they would take the next day. The sculpture represented an older woman, but the artist had managed to carve the face with a fascinating expression of both fierce willpower and benevolence.

  “This woman was the founder of Ojilon, a few dozen years ago,” explained the man.

  “So you mean a bit like Gelden and the nomads, who constructed their village near your house?”

  “Yes, just like that. This city started out as just a group of people who wanted protection from monsters, while also building a home for themselves. As you can see, it was enough to simply build four gates in the four valleys, and the job was done. The new arrivals could then take their time in constructing what they needed, without fear of being attacked.”

  “That certainly wasn’t the case for the gypsies,” declared Glaide. “If we hadn’t been there when the village was attacked, it wouldn’t exist any longer.”

  “That’s entirely possible,” Kezthrem said with a sigh. “And it is sadly the destiny of too many villages that, barely constructed, are reduced to cinders because of their lack of defenses.”

  “And I suppose places like Zakorth certainly don’t help.”

  The man replied with a simple nod. “Night is falling,” he declared finally. “We should return to the inn. Tomorrow, we’ll continue on our way.”

  Now it was Glaide’s turn to nod, and as his master began to walk away he fell into step behind him.

  In the end, Ojilon wasn’t able to win the young man over. It was too dark, too confined, and—even if the surroundings were magnificent—life here wouldn’t suit him. It was, however, an extraordinary place, and he made a mental note to show it to his friends one day.

  As soon as the thought crossed his mind, he realized that it had been weeks since he’d last thought of them. A bit ashamed, he tried to justify that to himself, saying that there was nothing he could do concerning them, and that it was wiser to avoid useless worry. However, he couldn’t help but hope that he was merely being logical, and that it wasn’t that he had slowly begun to forget them, distracted by his adventures in these last few months. After all, he’d now spent more time here with Kezthrem than he had with Gwenn, Jeremy, and Emily. Sometimes, even their names seemed like distant memories, which frightened him.

  But he knew, too, that his training was drawing to a close. By the time this journey had ended, he knew he would be able to defend himself. Already, he could see that things had changed. He had little in common with the adolescent who had first spoken with the master of Iretane after two weeks of wandering. The only thing he had in common with that boy was the passion he felt for this world that he had now lived in for more than six months. Just thinking about it made him dizzy. Up until now, he’d spent most of his time training. However, it was his travels, and his encounters with the people and creatures of this land, that filled his memories, despite the fact that they made up such a small fraction of his adventure.

  He thought back to Ayrokkan, who he had met five months earlier. The dragon had yet to come to him again. What would he decide? Of course, Glaide hoped the dragon’s decision would be in his favor, if for no other reason than to protect his own pride. But still he had to wait. He honestly hadn’t thought about it much in the meantime. When the dragon again crossed paths with him, he would take the time to consider the consequences of the dragon’s decision, whatever it might be. He would cross that bridge when he came to it.

  The young man was still considering all of those things, standing before the northern door of the village, staring off into space in the direction of the houses, when his master decided it was time for them to go. The two took a different path back and the mountains behind them gradually faded into imposing silhouettes at their backs.

  Chapter 4

  THE countryside here was radically different from what the two travelers had encountered a few days earlier. Instead of the endless, empty plains, here there were numerous woods and forests, separated from time to time by hills of varying heights. Sometimes, they could make out individual mountain peaks in the distance. The road that wound between these heights was clear and well-marked. There were no paving stones, but the ground was hard packed. However, that didn’t last. At the first intersection they came across, the two travelers headed east, and from that moment on, the road began to deteriorate, before completely disappearing into the vegetation just a few hours later. “It’s incredible, but we seem to have intentionally chosen the worst route possible,” Glaide thought, resignation filling him with the realization.

  Kezthrem seemed unperturbed, though, and continued to advance as though nothing had changed. The adolescent decided once again to trust him without trying to understand. However, he wanted to learn more about their destination, and this time, he was determined not to give in until he had.

  “We’ll continue to head east until we can see the mountains of Oclin-Fer, or the forest that borders this part of the world,” the man finally conceded, faced with the boy’s insistence.

  “And where is the place we’re headed, exactly?” demanded the boy.

  “It lies directly between the mountains and the forest—where the two meet.”

  The young man walked in silence after that, imagining a tiny village tucked in at the feet of the immense landform, and surrounded by a deep blanket of green. The place ought to be lovely.

  Ni
ght arrived uneventfully, with the exception of a small band of orks that they dispatched in just a few minutes. This time Glaide had only had to face a few adversaries, but he also had not become so exhausted. He considered that a victory, and thought toward the future. He pictured himself facing his enemies with all of his heart and soul—though with gravity, of course, and with full awareness of everything that would mean. After all, every fight was a fight to the death, so it was important that he always be at his best: well-rested, sharp, and able to endure.

  The next day, they prepared to continue on their way. Kezthrem was visibly more calm now than he had been on the way to Ojilon. There was no place like Zakorth in the area, and the only enemies they were likely to face were disorganized bands of creatures. The two travelers could continue on their way in tranquility. That morning, the older man took the time to prepare a warm breakfast before they left, made by boiling some fruit. He and his disciple ate while talking of everything, and of nothing. They had about four days left of their journey, and it was with light hearts that the two continued on their way.

  The journey was becoming more pleasant; the view was never the same twice, and there were many routes they could take to get from point to point. Kezthrem chose a pebbly pathway that soon led to a forest that hugged the edge of some mountains. Glaide was afraid they would find themselves climbing along the face of one of the steep bluffs, but he found that the route instead pressed deeper into the trees. Once they entered, they found themselves entirely surrounded in green, instead of at a cliff’s edge like he’d feared. As always, the weather was wonderful, and although the young man knew that that was merely one more sign of the evil tormenting this world, he couldn’t help but admire the emerald light that filtered down through the treetops. His master’s voice drew him out of his thoughts.