“May I be of assistance, young knight?” a priest greeted me at the gate.
I did a double take of the priest. He was not much older than myself and had stormy gray eyes that seemed to flash with a mischievous light. I got the distinct impression this priest had an impish streak in him, which would explain his attraction to the mercurial god of the skies.
“Yes, actually,” I nodded. “I’ve taken up the quest to rescue Princess Ariadne and thought I would beseech the god’s blessing.”
“And you seek the god of the sky over the goddess of the underworld like the other adventurers?” questioned the priest with a raised eyebrow.
“I figured going into the mountains I’d be closer to his domain than hers,” I explained with a shrug.
“You might be surprised just whose domain you find yourself in,” the priest gave a sly smile. “But I like your thinking nonetheless.”
“Uh, right.” This priest was decidedly odd. “So can you help me?”
“After a fashion,” the priest nodded. “Follow me, if you will. But first, leave your weapons here.”
I dutifully left my scimitar, dagger, and shield where the priest indicated and followed the man into the temple at a remarkably brisk pace. He seemed to be in an awful hurry.
“So why are you going into the Eisenberge?” the priest asked over his shoulder. “Same reason as the others, I presume? The throne of Alkilion does have a strong appeal, does it not?”
“Not to me,” I snorted. “Anyone can have that so far as I’m concerned. Well, anyone except Baasha.”
Suddenly the priest turned sharply and locked an uncomfortably intense stare on me. “Most interesting,” he remarked more to himself. “So if it is not wealth and power you seek, then what? Are you in love with the princess?”
“No, well I mean I like her. A lot even, but I wouldn’t say I am ‘in love’ with her,” I answered awkwardly.
“So why go to the Eisenberge, into the lair of the Sorceress herself?” the priest questioned, all mischief gone from his face. Those gray eyes now stared intensely as if piercing my soul. “The Eisenberge is not a place one goes for fun.”
“So I’ve been told,” I took a step back. “I’m going because, well, I’m supposed to. I’m a knight of the king and thus I’m supposed to protect the royal family. Besides, Ari, I mean the princess is my friend. Shouldn’t I help a friend? And my father told me to go.”
“I see. And do you do everything your father tells you?”
“Pretty much,” I frowned. “Why wouldn’t I? He’s my father, a knight, and a hero of the Sorceress War. Besides, he only has the family’s best interest in mind and this would be a huge boost for my family. Does it matter?”
“Does it matter?” the priest nearly laughed. “My dear boy, why you do anything is the most important part, especially for something as grand as this. You have no idea why you’re going on this quest.”
“I just told you why I’m going.”
“You told me why others are sending you,” the priest corrected. “But you have failed to say why you are going except perhaps the princess is your friend. Perhaps that is all the motivation you need but I suspect you will need more reasons of your own to complete your quest.”
I was confused. I wasn’t thrilled about going into the Eisenberge but I was fairly confident I knew why he was going. Besides, I’d come here to get the god’s blessing, not have some philosophical debate with this acolyte or whatever he was.
“So are you going to help me or not?” I demanded a little sharper than intended.
“Oh I am most certainly going to help you, far more than you realize,” the priest’s wily smile returned in full force. “A person of your courage and selflessness is just who we’ve been waiting for.”
“A person of my what? Waiting for?” I was now thoroughly confused. “Who’s ‘we’?”
The priest waved off the question as if it were meaningless. “You are still young, of course, and have much to learn, particularly about yourself. But you are not driven by greed and are wise enough to be malleable by wisdom,” he prattled as if I was supposed to know what in the Trinity’s name he was talking about. He seemed to be talking about me but the person he described sounded nothing like me. “I suspect young Zimri, you will find a great deal more in the Eisenberge than just a captured princess.”
“Right, I think Adamah will be of more use to me,” I started backing away from the clearly insane priest.
“Unlikely,” the priest replied. “In fact, she will likely give you much the same answers as I.”
“You talk like you know the Trinity yourself,” Zimri pointed out.
“Do I?” the priest cocked his head. “I suppose being the priest of one, you do feel as if you know the gods personally. Her priestesses will tell you the same as I, I can assure you. Besides, you already have my help. The god’s help, that is.”
“Don’t I have to make some sort of offering or sacrifice? Burn some incense? A goat?” I inquired.
“A goat? Heavens no, Shama’im doesn’t enjoy such barbarism. Behomah would have his head for that,” the priest seemed horrified by the idea.
“Who?”
“Incense is appreciated, I will admit,” the priest continued, ignoring me. “As for an offering, no need for that. The only thing Shama’im requires of you is to find Olympia in the Eisenberge. She will give you the ability to defeat the Sorceress once and for all.”
“Uh, okay,” I didn’t understand what was going on at all.
“Excellent,” the priest replied. “Now you have a long journey and should get going.”
“Good idea,” I turned quickly, eager to get away from this decidedly crazy individual.
“Oh, one last thing,” the priest called after me. “You will find aide in odd places from those you least expect and danger from places you think safe. Wisdom will appear foolishness and foolishness will appear to be wisdom. Beware of these traps.”
I had no idea what that meant and at this point had no interest in figuring it out. Turning to address the priest, “Could you—”
I blinked in astonishment. The priest was nowhere to be found. He had been standing in the middle of the empty stone courtyard between the gate and the temple itself. There was nowhere for the priest to hide; it was as if he had been blown away on the winds.
Shaking my head and wondering just how hard I had hit my head, I made for the gate. On the way, I was suddenly intercepted by another priest, an old man with a long, white beard.
“Can I help you, young lord?” the priest inquired.
“No, the other priest helped me already,” I informed. I had had plenty of “help” for one day.
“Other priest, young lord?” The priest looked genuinely confused.
“Yes, the young man with gray eyes,” I pointed to the courtyard. “He must’ve gone in temple.”
The old priest regarded me curiously. “Young lord, I am the only priest here today and we have no priests at this temple with gray eyes.”
“Wait…what?”
“Are you alright, young lord?” Concern was etched on his face.
“Just fine,” I lied, collecting my weapons.
“Do you need the Lord of the Sky’s help with something?”
“Nope, I’ve got all I can handle right now,” I answered, leaving a confused priest in his wake.
It was because of crazy stuff like this, I reminded myself as I began my way down Eli’av’s streets towards the docks, that I avoided religion.
Chapter 7-Zimri
“Zimri, wake up and see this,” Adam’s voice intruded on my dreams.
“What could possibly be of value this early?” I grumbled, following Adam out onto the deck of their river boat. To my right, the sun was cresting the eastern horizon, illuminating Gadol Plains.
“The Eisenberge at sunrise,” Adam informed. “Today is the first day you will get a good look at it.”
I raised his eyes and saw sunrays lancing off t
he foothills to the Eisenberge. I had seen hints of the mountains since leaving Forks the previous day but they had just been a vague shape on the northern horizon. They looked much more real now.
I shook my head. “I’ve never seen anything like that. Those peaks run almost up to the clouds.”
“Those are not the peaks,” Adam followed my eyes. He pointed to a spot above the clouds where I could see dark triangles looming over the clouds.
“By the Trinity,” I breathed, suddenly realizing the monstrous scale of the Eisenberge. It towered over Alkilion like an impenetrable wall designed to defeat the gods themselves.
Adam gave a subtly proud smile. “They used to call it the Castle of the Gods for that reason,” he informed. “The Eisenberge has never been conquered and not for lack of trying.”
“That’s encouraging.”
“You are not trying to conquer it,” Adam pointed out. “Easy to disappear in that labyrinth.”
“Still not helping,” I grumbled.
“Get to the Hidden Vale and you will be fine,” Adam clapped my back.
“You seem to know an awful lot about the Eisenberge,” I eyed my travel companion suspiciously.
“Ah, yes, well,” Adam stammered out, “my mother is Eisenbergian.”
“Really? Eisenbergians make it out?” I was stunned. “I thought no one could escape the Sorceress.”
“Few have, true,” Adam’s eyes were far away. “My father, uh, met her during the confusion of the Sorceress War and helped her escape.”
“Your father was on the expedition into the Eisenberge? What is his name? Few returned from that disaster.” I realized I hadn’t even learned Adam’s father’s name.
“Uh, Judah, Sir Judah,” Adam awkwardly supplied.
“Hmm, I thought I knew all the survivors of the expedition,” I mentally recited the roll, drawing a blank on a Judah. “Guess not,” I shrugged off, “I did have a concussion. I guess that explains your blue eyes.”
“I got that and tales of the Eisenberge from my mother. You know,” he turned to me, “I could be of use to you.”
“Oh?” My suspicion returned.
“I am not a warrior like you,” Adam admitted, “But I am tough and I am good with people. I know things about the Eisenberge that few others will. I can help guide you through and rescue the princess.”
I considered the offer. It made sense; I would have a better chance of success with a partner, particularly one who knew the Eisenberge. Of course I hardly knew anything of Adam, having only met him five days before at the disastrous celebration and then serendipitously being on the same boat as me. But I genuinely liked Adam, finding him insightful and fun, if a bit vague at times. This young knight displayed none of the opulence and arrogance most of the nobility threw around and that was something I respected.
The priest of Shama’im’s warning came back to me unbidden. I shook my head at the ridiculousness of actually taking seriously his ramblings. And yet…I looked back at the pleading Adam, that warning still ate at me. It made me…uncomfortable.
“If you are worried about me wanting the crown or the princess, I assure I just want to help. Please,” he placed his hand on my shoulder, “take me with you.”
Suddenly I felt dizzy and for a brief moment, I could’ve sworn that Adam’s eyes were red. Then I collapsed to the deck.
“Sir Zimri!” one of the sailors shook me awake a moment later. “Are you alright?”
Woozy, I slowly got back to my feet. “What happened?” I asked Adam.
“I am not sure,” he said. “You just collapsed; must be the concussion.”
“Must be,” I said, unsure. “What were we talking about?”
“About me helping you rescue the princess,” Adam supplied.
“Right,” I nodded clearing the cobwebs. I looked at Adam’s eyes carefully. They were still blue.
Then, almost unconsciously I stuck out my hand and grasped Adam’s. “Of course, I’d love to have your aid,” I said automatically, as if it were someone else. “You have my word as a knight of the king.”
I frowned slightly for a moment, wondering why I’d given in so quickly. But then I wondered why I’d been so concerned about the ramblings of a priest who was clearly insane, if he was a priest at all. Adam’s help would be huge. It might even get me out of being king, although the parents wouldn’t like that. But I would be promoted, maybe to Lord General or something like that.
“Everything alright?” Adam asked.
“Fine,” my mind returned to the priest. “Does your mother know of an Olympia who might help us?”
A shadow of fear and recognition for the briefest of moments flashed across Adam’s face. “Not that I know of,” he replied.
“But you know the name,” I pressed.
“Not of any person,” Adam shook his head. “There is the old Eisenberge goddess Olympia, goddess of the mountains, of craftsmanship, and of wisdom. But no one has worshipped her since the Mistress took over and I doubt she is real. Even if she were, she is like her mountain home; cold, hard, and unforgiving. Wisdom is like that. I would not wish to seek her aid.”
“Don’t worry,” I was relieved, “I’ve had more than my fill of gods and goddesses. Tell me more about the Eisenberge. Are dragons real? Are they something we need to worry about?”
“Dragons?” Adam’s lips twitched into a smile. “Of course dragons are real but they stay far up the slopes…”
I listened as Adam gave a rather detailed description about the habits and lives of dragons, feeling more confident about my decision to trust Adam. I should’ve known better than to get mixed up with the gods, I told himself as we sailed closer to Schwarztor. From now on I resolved to trust in men and steel.
Chapter 8-Zimri
“How may I serve you, sir knight?”
Startled, I turned to see an attractive young woman about Ariadne’s age looking nervously looking at me.
“I don’t see my friend,” I remarked, “So I’d like a booth or table for two, preferably near the kitchen, where it will be warm.”
“Of course sir knight, immediately,” she bobbed her head and gestured for him to follow.
The Witch’s Brew seemed quite packed so I was dubious there was actually an open space. To my dismay however, the barmaid shooed a pair of commoners away from a booth near the kitchen’s.
“What was that for?” I asked, irritated.
“Does this meet what you’re looking for, sir knight?” she timidly returned.
“Well yes, but there were people sitting here,” I pointed out. “Was it necessary to kick them out?”
“To provide you with the requested seat, yes,” she said with an odd combination fear and matter-of-factness.
“I didn’t ask you to…” I looked for the two evicted patrons but discovered they had already exited. “Forget it. Do you know them?”
“Yes, I do,” she nodded.
“Good,” I answered, pulling a gold crown out of his pocket. “This should cover their drinks next time.”
The barmaid stared at the coin in shock while I slumped into the chair and closed my eyes. If Adam took his time, I wouldn’t complain.
“May I get you something, sir?” she asked.
“Huh?” I cracked an eye open. “Sure, get me some good wine.”
“We have some wine, sir, but I don’t think good is an apt description,” she said.
“Okay, what do you have that is good?” I queried.
“Our barely ale is quite good, and it will warm you,” she gestured to my wet clothes.
“Sounds good,” I flashed her a smile. “I’ll take some of that. Oh, and direct my friend here when he arrives.”
“Who is your friend?” she asked.
“Sir Adam.”
“Who?”
I sat up straight and studied the barmaid curiously. “Sir Adam. His father is a merchant here.”
“Never heard of him.”
“Well Schwarztor is a pretty big
city and I doubt you know everyone,” I remarked.
“It’s not that big and I do know most everyone,” rebutted the barmaid, causing me to arch an eyebrow.
“I’m sorry, sir, I meant no disrespect,” the maid’s eyes widened as she realized she’d just contradicted a knight.
“It seems I have a habit of doing that. Oh don’t worry,” I waved off her protest, “I prefer it when people speak their minds. My friend is a big guy with blue eyes and short, spiky hair.”
“Blue eyes?”
“He’s half Eisenbergian. You’ll know him when you see him. Could you get me that ale?”
“Right away, sir,” she bowed and rushed off while I leaned back to close my eyes again, annoyed. Clearly Baasha and his father, Nasi Ishvi, had made their rather unfortunate mark on this province if just a knight made them nervous. I could only imagine the kind of panic the presence of an Adone or Nasi might bring. It irked me but it wasn’t my province so not my problem.
“Your ale,” the barmaid’s voice interrupted my tired thoughts.
Sitting up, I took the proffered drink and drank deeply. Immediately I realized what a terrible mistake I’d made. The amber liquid burned my throat like fire and I started a coughing fit.
“Forgive me, sir knight,” the maid covered her mouth with her hand, futilely attempting to stifle a laugh.
“For what?” I laughed, despite how my throat burned. “I guess my weak southern constitution can’t handle strong northern drink.”
“I guess not, sir knight,” the maid let the laugh come. “Ale isn’t quite as smooth as your southern wines.”
“Clearly,” I laughed, and coughed, with her. “Do you have some water to wash it down?”
“I guessed you might,” she pulled a stone cup and handed it to me. “Try drinking the ale slowly.”
“I would’ve appreciated that advice before drinking,” I gave her a bright smile. “What’s your name?”
“My name?” The maid suddenly paled.
“You’re not in trouble or anything. I just like knowing people’s names,” I explained. “Have a seat.”
“Sir?”
The Sorceress's Apprentice Page 4
