by Kurtis Smith
Davin didn’t answer. Egan knew he could handle it. When Davin took in all that was said, there were no other options in his mind. Teague had to stay alive by any means necessary. And that meant he must stay with them.
Teague roused a short time later. They mounted and continued into the middle kingdom pastures. It was difficult to push the pookas harder while when they were so tired, so they kept a slower pace.
The ground below them was beginning to change. The yellow, harsh grass and dry soil was replaced by thick, fertile green. Wild-looking, leafy trees and plants flourished here as well.
Egan pointed out that many rivers converged and flowed in and out of this region. That and the constant rains was how it kept its color year round. The only downside was the humidity that was common here. Today it was in full force. They all felt themselves beginning to sweat without much exertion.
The hills began to elongate and they and arrived at the first road in the Greenlands. It was wide and paved just as Teague had said. They decided to take it west for the moment, coming across a group of signs and a four way fork. The signs told them that the other roads all lead to the different cities in the Greenlands. One sign pointed out Oamlund in the east, another big city, home of the wealthiest in the Greenlands. Another pointed due west to Callum, where the famous Cliffs of Callum resided and attracted anyone who loved see great natural wonders.
“We are looking for Tilea,” Egan reminded them, scanning the signs himself. Quickly they discovered that the road to Tilea ran northwest and continued on it.
Everywhere they looked now houses were visible, some with lots of land, some without. But they were everywhere. Shops sprang up in the oddest places, looking out of place among the open land and farm houses. The shops obviously served the locals so they wouldn’t have to go all the way into a town. It was still a strange sight to outsiders.
They passed over several river bridges and spend some long hours on the same road. It finally paid off. The cities were so close here that in the darkness of night you could they make out the faint lights of others nearby. It was as if the Greenlands itself was one giant metropolis.
Two days after their entrance into the region, they had reached the outskirts of Tilea. It looked run down with grimy old buildings and streets. Even the folk themselves appeared a bit shady.
“Remember, this city is not the nicest of places. Watch your step,” Egan said.
Davin smirked. “That’s pretty obvious.”
Exhausted and raw, they dismounted and rented three stalls for the pookas, then headed into town.
As they passed through the gates Davin spied a young woman with flowing shoulder-length dark hair and a small figure. The curves of her thin body and round, freckled face drew Davin’s gaze. She was very pretty. There was no denying it. He struggled to not stop and enjoy her beauty longer. She kept glaring at their small group which made it even harder for Davin to look away.
Egan spoke again as they all looked around, “Look for an older man that seems as if he searching for someone himself. I assume that would be our best bet.” He shrugged.
Davin took his eyes off the girl. “We don’t have a description of him?” he asked.
“All Liam said was they were around the same age,” Egan admitted. “We will ask the locals. Be extra careful though, the army would surely be patrolling these towns, just as in Slainte.”
They split up and started questioning the folks around the gate. None of them had ever heard of the man. Most told Davin that the city was too big for everyone to know one man. Davin knew this too and began to grow discouraged after a short time. He began to take it slower, partly because he was tired of being given angry looks and partly because his legs hurt. He wanted to sit down, but the city was a slum.
As he journeyed deeper in he hoped to reach some nicer areas, but none came. It was a little unnerving, but more so discouraging. He didn’t want to wander the depths of this filthy place. It meant more decrepit buildings, ragged poor, and rat-infested streets than he could handle for one day. And the day was only just starting.
But still he continued for some time longer. City Guards and Grand Soldiers could be seen moving amongst the crowds, keeping the more unruly homeless in line by smacking them back down. There was no shock or surprise at this reaction. The homeless were accepting of this treatment and the guards and soldiers showed no concern for their behavior. This was just the way it was here.
The city appeared to have had districts at one point, being that it was large, but no longer. The whole thing blurred together in an overwhelming filth. Nature had almost completely reclaimed certain buildings and streets. Now these areas appeared more commonly home to thieves. Almost every structure, whether it was in proper use of not, was rotting or decaying in some way. Even the government headquarters in the central part of the city was overgrown with moss and vines, and was crumbling in sections.
At last Davin found an old recreation area with worn out benches. Wanting to take a break from the search, he stumbled up to a bench. He sat there for a few minutes with his eyes closed and his head back. There was no way for him to get sleep here, but at least he would relax for a while.
Sometime later, he started to wonder if he should be getting back. As he began to rub his eyes he heard a female voice sound from right next to him. He jumped and opened his eyes, starting to leave.
“Halt, please. Excuse me, sir.” At first Davin hoped she was addressing someone else. Then she reached out and turned him around.
It was the dark haired girl he had thought pretty by the gate. He blushed involuntarily at the thought. She had a strong demeanor about her as she stared at him. Her arms were crossed in front of her and she wore a stern look. She also stood imposingly, invading Davin’s personal space.
“What’s your name?” she asked, her voice commanding.
“Did you follow me here?”
“Yes, now answer my question.”
“Oaem,” Davin lied, saying the first name that came to mind. The girl eyed him skeptically, her ripped and tattered clothing not masking her beauty.
“You’re lying,” she told him. “It would be too much of a coincidence that you would share the same name as my father.”
Davin blinked and straightened to full height, energy renewed for the moment. “My fellow travelers and I are looking for a man with that name. He is a Scholar of Ancient lore.”
She looked around them before she spoke as if afraid that somebody had heard Davin’s words. “And Guildsman, but let’s not talk about that in the open, too many Grand soldiers about. Come; lead me to your colleagues.”
They traipsed back through the filthy streets toward the city gate. Davin spotted more soldiers here and there. He couldn’t believe he had been so careless about them before. They made sure to steer clear of them this time. It looked as if she was as weary about them as he was.
Davin spotted the other two near one another, talking to two different locals. It looked as if they weren’t having much luck either.
Davin called for them to join him and the girl around the next building, somewhat out of sight. Egan and Teague excused themselves from their current conversations.
When they rounded the building she talked immediately. “Are you Egan, sir?” she asked with the politeness you would show an elder.
“Yes, my lady.”
“That is well. I received the post that Liam sent my father. I was expecting you.”
Concern grew on Egan’s face. He sensed something was wrong even though she had given him no indication of such.
“What has happened of late?” Egan asked eagerly. “Where is your father?”
She bit her lip. Obviously the subject was a sore one. It was her father after all. “Gone, taken by Grand Soldiers.” She looked away as if replaying the scene in her head. “They knew he was Scholar of Ancient lore. And that he studied the lost Driocht scroll. I don’t know how.” She looked back at Egan. “Do you?”
“It is a
mystery to us as well,” Egan told her. “That being said, we have a different objective. It is imperative that we find the other pieces before the King does. That will render the other mysteries irrelevant. Do you still have your father’s research?”
She nodded firmly. “Yes. The original manuscripts were taken by the soldiers but he copied the most important pages, should anything ever happen to them.”
“Please tell us that the section about the Scroll we need was copied,” Davin pleaded.
“I believe it is, though I have not actually seen that particular information.” She smiled at Davin, and then at the other two. It quickly faded.
“Where is the Scholar, Liam? He said that he would be joining you here.” Her gaze rested on Davin for a moment. She caught him staring at her with his mouth hanging open. Davin looked away quickly. He had made it obvious that he found her attractive.
“Did you know him well?” Egan asked morosely.
“He visited my father several times in past years. He was very kind and good from what I remember.”
These words seemed to weigh heavily on Egan. It was as if memories of his friend had just resurfaced. He took a long moment to speak, but when he did, it was with only strength and resolve. There was no indication of pain in his manner.
“It would distress you to know that he was killed,” Egan said finally.
She bowed her head. “That is does, lord Egan.”
Two soldiers passed where they stood talking. The group fell silent, remembering that they were still in range of hostile ears. The girl was the only one facing the soldiers directly, and nodded when it was clear.
“Now would be ideal to head indoors,” Teague said, speaking for the first time since their meeting her.
“This way.” She led them out of the dank alleyway and onto the main street.
It was a long walk to her home and the city looked the same no matter how far in you went. The original excitement of earlier faded and Davin began to grow very tired again. He wasn’t the only one. Egan and Teague showed signs of weariness too.
When they reached her home, she led them inside. It was small and cramped and very unspectacular, but it served its purpose. Books and parchment lay everywhere, in a sort of organized mess. Two rooms led off from the sitting room and kitchen space. One looked like a study, another, a bedroom. A flight of stairs led to the second story that most likely housed the second bedroom. Just like every other city in Talamaraon, houses ran tall not wide.
She wasted no time. “I have not introduced myself. I am Kayleigh and this is my home.”
Davin and Teague each introduced themselves, but Teague kept his relation to the king a secret for safety sake.
She then retreated into a side room. They heard rustling parchment. She was looking for the information they needed. Davin fell down onto a chair and closed his eyes. He wanted to sleep, but he didn’t want to miss hearing the answers they were looking for either.
“It was a good thing he translated it before the soldiers came,” Davin commented. “We wouldn’t have had time to do it ourselves.” They all nodded.
“Much less the ability to,” Egan mumbled. Davin looked up at him in confusion. “I was never good with languages, or maybe I just didn’t care. Everyone speaks the common tongue anyway these days.”
“Weren’t you raised with others like us, why don’t you know the language?” Davin asked, thinking that Egan wouldn’t reveal much.
Egan looked at Davin. “Yes, but if you recall, I don’t remember much of that…remember?”
“I remember. I still can’t believe it doesn’t bother you more,” Davin said, shaking his head.
Egan shrugged. “The past has no hold over me unless I let it.”
Davin began to form his rebuttal, but Kayleigh’s voice sounded from the small side room.
“I’ve got it,” Kayleigh exclaimed.
She exited the room with a three foot long role of parchment, scanning it up and down. As she placed it on the table the others walked over and looked over her shoulder. Davin felt uncomfortable standing this close to Kayleigh, though he didn’t show it.
I really am hopeless if I can’t stand next to a pretty girl and keep it together.
In bright bold symbols stood the Ancient language, and to the right of it was the common tongue translation. Davin wished that he had spent more time studying Liam’s texts when they’d had the chance. It really was awe-inspiring to see and understand writing from age old magical beings, especially ones that he shared blood with.
Kayleigh perked up, having found the passage that was most important to them at the moment. She spoke before Davin could question Egan more about himself.
“Here it is,” she said and begun to read it aloud. They all gathered round and listened intensely.
We broke the magic that had the power to unite us.
After the war it became too dangerous to keep.
The sacred Driocht Scroll was torn into four,
And we scattered it across the land until it was time
This is the last record we will keep of it
One on a high mountain south, guarded by spirits and a timeless woman
One in the forest where our fathers’ bodies rest forever
One in a desert north, guarded by storms and treacherous land
One on an island, far into the sea
Let the pieces be reunited when time is most dire.
They all were silent after she finished reading.
Egan spoke first. “A bit vague.”
“That’s an understatement,” said Kayleigh drily.
“Still, I fear where this tells us to go.”
“Which part? They all sound fairly dangerous,” Kayleigh interjected. Egan looked at her when he answered, a fear in his eyes that Davin had never seen.
“The high mountain it refers to are the Asnine Mountains on the southern borders of this land. And the spirits that guard it are the Auki, evil creatures that leave no man alive. All of you realize, if we continue this quest, it is likely that it will claim our lives. Is that morbid enough for you?”
Davin had been traveling along another line of thought but at these words, his expression turned to that of utmost apprehension. He remembered vividly the eerie screams in the night air that chilled his blood. “That can’t be. That would make it an impossible task.”
“What of the other pieces?” Teague asked, ignoring Davin’s outburst. “The King has one of them, yes, but which one? What if they have already found the one we set out for? We would waste our time for nothing.”
A wave of understanding burst through Davin suddenly like an unchained animal. He had the true answer to something that had been burning in him a long time.
It was the reason that Roland had been ordered to build weapons for the army, the reason the army had come to Lemirre in the first place. And why they had been in the Ancient forest with the dead governor’s body.
“I know for a fact that they have not been to the mountains yet,” he burst out to them all. This bold statement caught everyone off guard.
Davin’s excitement exploded from him, the fire in his voice growing with every word.
“One of the places mentioned in the text is the Ancient Forest, I am sure of it. ‘The forest where our fathers’ bodies lie forever’. When I saw First Captain Deverell and his men there the last time I went hunting, I knew that something else was going on. Something else besides the governor’s burial and the order of supplies from my godfather, the blacksmith of Lemirre. They created these excuses to come to Lemirre and the Ancient Forest so they could look for it. ”
Egan’s face dawned with understanding. Kayleigh and Teague looked confused.
“How long ago was your father taken?” Davin asked the girl.
She shrugged, “It has been a couple of months now.”
All eyes in the room were on him. When they stayed mute, he continued. “It makes sense, doesn’t it? They knew where to look for the Scroll becau
se of her father. He gave them any information they needed to find us. After issuing the order to Roland for equipment and the criminal campaign, they had their excuse to come. Then they used the burial of the governor to enter the forest without suspicion. Everyone knows that the governor is dead. Simply going in to hide the body wouldn’t make any sense. They covered up their entire agenda. It was the only way to keep the Scroll a secret,” he concluded.
Davin felt a great weight lift from his mind. The resolution of something so heavy allowed a great catharsis, even though their troubles were far from over.
“Then our fate is sealed,” Egan replied gravely. The other two pieces were too vague yet to pursue. The southern mountains and a confrontation with the Auki were where their fates lied. There was no doubt of that.
“Before we make any plan about leaving, we need rest,” Egan told Kayleigh. “Traveling straight for several days will wear out any man, no matter powerful he is.”
She nodded understandingly. “This is not a problem. Take beds wherever you like and as much time as you need. I will gather the essentials for long travel so that when you are rested we can leave quickly.”
Egan didn’t respond the way Davin had expected at Kayleigh’s kindness. Instead of thanking her he frowned, looking upset. Davin felt like stepping in and responding for Egan. But then Egan spoke again.
“My lady,” he started, “this is not a quest I would ask you be a part of. No one in this company would force you do this against your will. I would not like to witness a poor death placed upon one so young and fair.”
She accepted his compliment with only the slightest flicker of grin. It was repressed quickly though, as if it showed weakness. “Master Egan, I know that none of you force it upon me. I want to join you if your group will have me. I know what may lie ahead but I am no weak house maiden. If it becomes necessary, I can take care of myself.” She hesitated before saying more. “Besides, this is my task as much as it is all of yours. My father is everything to me and now there is something I can do to help him.”
