After a decent night's sleep, they were off to see the ruins of the Columns of Inshae. Rommus didn't want to think about how Vohl was on his way there with no intention of coming back. He hoped that they would get there and Vohl would see that the whole idea was silly, and they'd all leave together. While he understood the man's reasons, he didn't want him to die--at the hands of gods or man.
It was an eerie trek between the mountains leading to the temple. Vohl's description of walking in the shadow of the mountain did little to prepare them for the peculiar sight. The mountains were so colossal and close that no light came to the sandy path that weaved its way northward. It was like being in moonlight, or perhaps a solar eclipse, eliminating shadows and playing strange tricks with the eye. The strange blue darkness seemed to stir as they moved through it, the perfect peace disrupted as if they walked through some kind of invisible mist. There was something strange about it; it seemed mystical and unreal, and Rommus could not understand why more light did not shine on them.
"How much farther?" Alana asked with exaggerated annoyance. "My legs hurt. Why did we have to leave the horses back there?"
"We had to leave them because of that pile of loose stones," Vohl said as he turned to her. "If they tried to climb that pile, I'm almost certain they would have broken their legs."
"I remember the rocks. I almost broke my own legs on them. Are we almost there?"
"Yes, it won't be long. It's around one of these bends. You have to forgive me; I have not been here in a few thousand years. It's hard to remember."
"It feels like we have been walking for a thousand years," she said. "Let me have some of that water."
Rommus handed her a water skin. "I'm sure it will be worth the walk. Everyone who has seen the ruins talks about what an amazing experience it was. I think it will be worth the sore legs and sweat."
She wiped some water from her mouth after she drank. "I know. I'm just playing. It's been a nice walk in this shade really."
"Not for much longer," Vohl said as he pointed. "Look."
Around the bend in front of them came a dazzling light. It seemed to almost sing to them in all its brilliance, urging them to come closer. Rommus knew that it was only sunlight finally finding its way to the ground through a larger opening ahead of them, but it still seemed magical in a way. Perhaps it was just that he was used to walking in the odd darkness for so many hours.
Alana ran past them to see what was around the bend. He watched her stop and almost fall, bringing a hand to her heart as she did so. She was clearly struck by the sight she saw but made no sound. When Rommus and Vohl finally caught up with her, their breath caught in their throats.
"What is going on?" Rommus asked as he stared.
Vohl fought to find the right words. "I don't know. This is not what I expected at all."
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